Some Facts about using a Car Seat Belt Extender
It is no secret that obesity is on the rise in the United States. This statistic has rapidly increased public health awareness campaigns, government sponsored programs, and corporate initiatives to help spur the spread of obesity. However, despite these programs, this is a problem that is unlikely to go away anytime soon. In light of this fact another industry is growing rapidly. That industry is the one that caters to overweight individuals. One product in this industry is the car seat belt extender.
The first thing you might ask yourself when you hear the phrase car seat belt extender is, “What the heck is a seat belt extender and why would anyone need one?” Good question. Let’s get on that.
A seat belt extender is exactly what it sounds like, it extends a seat belt. To be more specific, a seat belt extender increases the length of a safety belt in order to vastly increase the volume of passenger that the belt can accommodate. In short, auto seat belt extenders make it possible for individuals to sit comfortably in a car.
So why would anyone need one? The automotive factory standard safety belt is designed to accommodate a 215 pound adult with a 42.5 inch waist and a 47.2 inch hip circumference. It is safe to say that most people know someone that weighs more than 215 pounds, and a trip down to the local mega-mart will likely prove that pants certainly come in sizes above 42. The fact is, while these standards can comfortably accommodate a majority of the population, there is a definitive minority that simply will not fit, and that minority is, pardon the pun, growing.
They are pretty simple devices actually. Most car seat belt extenders are 8 inches long. Do the math. An extra eight inches of seat belt extends the maximum waist size to 50.2 inches and the maximum hip circumference to 55.2 inches. That’s a big difference, and is certainly enough to cover a vast majority of the overweight minority.
The car seat belt extender will snap into the existing seat belt. Brand specific factory-made extenders will have matching male and female components and will be an exact fit with the specific safety belt. Universal seat belt extenders generally require a bit more work. Still, the extenders are worth it.
Why are they worth it? The simple and obvious answer is safety. Wearing a seat belt is the simplest and most effective way to prevent bodily harm and death in the event of an auto accident. Those people that cannot fit in a seat belt cannot ride safely in a car. So, by extending the seat belt, the car becomes safer for everyone involved (provided of course that someone needs the extension).
Aside from safety there is the whole legal aspect to consider. 49 out of 50 states mandate seat belts for all drivers and passengers. Chances are, if you’re driving in America, you need to wear a seat belt. Sorry, telling the officer “it doesn’t fit” won’t get you off the hook, not unless Johnnie Cochran is your lawyer. So don’t suck it in, suck it up and buy a car seat belt extender.