[jailbird_fynix]

Friendly reminder to get yourself one of these if you haven't already - it's fairly cheap (this one is currently priced at Rs 289) and easily available through Amazon. Also, please remember to fix the tool in a place that's easily accessible.



Link to product on Amazon

[vishwaschettri]

Originally Posted by Nav-i-gator

Exactly the situation I was talking about. However, retractor mechanism still works, provided we are able to release pressure on the belt.

Originally Posted by saket77

What you are talking about is the locking retractor which locks the belt so that there is no slack in the belt during a crash, holding the occupant tight in case of crash. This can be released if you take off some pressure off the belt by loosening it.

It will not extend from retractor side if the vehicle is turtle, sideways or even off camber beyond a degree which is the case in most seat belt lockups after a crash.

If the vehicle is level after a crash, seat belts would work just fine.

If any of you have been curious enough to take apart a seat belt (I have) or been in a crash with occupants hanging from the seats in a turtle car (I have as a rescuer) you will know that retractor will not yield. It engages based on movement of a suspended ball mechanism which will also lock it up if car is not sitting level.



Try this by parking your vehicle off camber on a decent slope. Seat belt won't release.
Regular offroaders must have experienced this at some point while off roading.

Only way to escape without cutter is to release tension on the belt slightly and try to open the buckle side or push back and slide out.

I know you meant well but please be very sure about content you post when it comes to life safety which will be sitting on wide net accessible by all.

Cheers

[Tom Sooraj]

Originally Posted by vishwaschettri

It will not extend from retractor side if the vehicle is turtle, sideways or even off camber beyond a degree which is the case in most seat belt lockups after a crash.

Is this because of the seatbelt pre-tensioners?

I know you meant well but please be very sure about content you post when it comes to life safety which will be sitting on wide net accessible by all.

My post may be helpful atleast when the car is in a level surface.

Regards,
Sooraj.

[Geo_Ipe]

Originally Posted by Tom Sooraj

Is there any chance to escape from a jammed seatbelt?

The answer is yes. One can escape from a jammed seatbelt by following the below procedure, which hardly takes 15 seconds.

Sounds simple when done in a parked car in one's driveway, but I don't think it will be as simple when you're hanging upside down in a crashed car, possibly with injuries.

- It will be practically impossible to pull the seatbelt out of the B Pillar when your whole body weight is hanging on it (as explained in the quote below)

- One might have limb injuries including fractures which will prevent flexing the limbs to get out

- In case of fire, smoke or water gushing in, seatbelt cutter would be quicker than the said maneuver

Originally Posted by vishwaschettri

Only way to escape without cutter is to release tension on the belt slightly and try to open the buckle side or push back and slide out.

I know you meant well but please be very sure about content you post when it comes to life safety which will be sitting on wide net accessible by all.

Cheers

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by vishwaschettri

If any of you have been curious enough to take apart a seat belt (I have) or been in a crash with occupants hanging from the seats in a turtle car (I have as a rescuer) you will know that retractor will not yield. It engages based on movement of a suspended ball mechanism which will also lock it up if car is not sitting level.

I was involved in an accident where we ended up upside down, held up by seatbelts. First thing I did was switch of engine, and upon releasing the buckle, the belt came off (it retracted back also). Further, the co-passenger belt needed a little bit of slackening, which I was able to do by pulling out the belt. I'm not sure on the retractor locking up as you have claimed.

[ricky_speed]

Haven't actually tried this, but how about reclining the seat all the way to sneak out to the back seat?