To be pissed off with seatbelts?

[TheAverageJoanne]

I'm clearly doing something wrong as in every car I've had I'm strangled by my seatbelt. It always seems to ride up and find its way around my neck.

What am I doing wrong?

If you are going to use a booster seat, additionally, it needs some way of fixing either to the seat or hooking under the seatbelt, and it should be solid - nothing that would compress under crash forces.

If you look at booster seats for children, they either have the backrest or they have little "horns" (aka armrests, though they aren't really for arms, they are for the seatbelt) to hook the belt under, this ensures that in an accident the booster seat stays where it is and the belt isn't loose.

If you sit on a loose cushion or a booster seat like the linked one without the belt hooks then the booster will simply fly out from under you in an accident and then that means that the lap belt is loose.

This one from Halfords for example straps around the back of the chair. I don't know if that does mean that it would stay in place in an accident or whether it's something that would compress, but it would probably be better to get something that secures if you are sitting on something to boost you up.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-seat-covers-cushions/halfords-comfort-cushion-274321.html

I'm a little over 5' but have never had a problem. I always had pretty small cars though

I don’t think it’s to do with height, I think it is to do with boobs. I bought a couple of adjusters like the poster a couple of posts above me. It changes the angle and stops the seat belt cutting into my neck.
(Not sure what it does to the safety tbh..)

These are the ones I have: Newseego Seat Belt Adjuster, Comfort Universal Belt Strap Safety Shoulder, Neck Universal Comfort Positioner Locking Clips, Vehicle Car Seat Belt Safety Covers - Black https://amzn.eu/d/ivnXaV2

? I have boobs. So how would boobs mean a seatbelt ends up strangling you?

If you sit on a loose cushion or a booster seat like the linked one without the belt hooks then the booster will simply fly out from under you in an accident and then that means that the lap belt is loose.

It has got a strap.

Oh well with a strap is probably better. I didn't see one on the link. It doesn't look like it's attached to anything though?

The strap that joins the lap to shoulder belt - not good. Watch from about 6:30 min here, that product is the same principle. It's in Russian but you can just turn the sound off, you don't need it. Or the auto translated subtitles aren't bad. These videos are made because in Russia there is no law about what regulation a car seat needs to conform to so they have a lot of products which are sort-of car seats but not really and they are known to perform badly in crashes.

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There is something you can get which pulls the belt down at the top like the top of a booster seat does but doesn't pull the lap belt up, I don't know what the safety impact of those is. But definitely avoid anything that puts any strain on the lap belt or moves the lap belt at all.

I have this in dh’s van, I am 5’3 and I can only just do it up. I am size 22 and assumed it was because of my weight.

White?

It doesn't look like it's attached to anything though?

It's not attached to anything because I detached it for the photo.

Becuase instead of sitting flat, across your body starting at your hip and ending at your shoulder (as it does for a man) the seatbelt slides to sit on the side of your breast. So, as a driver, the seatbelt starts at your hip but instead of being straight, it goes up along the left side of your left breast then from there it goes to your shoulder. This makes the angle much closer to being horizontal and drives the seatbelt into your neck.

Yeah I’m 5’8 and mine is awful, so not a short thing! Will double check if it can be adjusted as I didn’t know that was a thing but my car is from 2007 so possibly not standard

I'm tall, the seat belt has been adjusted lower but it still cuts into my neck. I've noticed it doesn't hurt as much if I have a collar but it's still across my throat. I've had to purchase some fluffy slider things which help slightly.

My hands are like shovels. I can carry 3 pints in them at one time. Maybe I should give bricklaying a go! 🤔

I encounter this problem in some vehicles. It seems random which ones it happens in. I'm 5'2" and do carry some excess weight.

The seatbelt cutting into my neck is one of my pet hates. Off now to Google for some pads to make it more comfortable.

5’8” and this happens to me (large boobs) - I use a clip. I’ll take the safety risk over the skin of my neck being rubbed red raw. But yes, something needs to change!

I'm 5'9 and fairly flat chested. I'm still a woman!!

Mrs B has this problem. Adjusting the belt mount on the B pillar helps but she uses a soft slipover pad that came from Halfords.

We had an earlier version (French I think) that was meant for a child and had a teddy's head on it.

Boobs alone don't make you a woman. That is insulting to women who have had mastectomies due to cancer. They are still women afterwards.

@Bromptotoo thanks for the Halfords tip. I don't think my fluffy ones will survive winter.

My car seatbelt is fixed it doesn’t move up or down which is a pain tbh. Wonder if it’s to do with boobs, my chair moves so I try that but my neck does get it from the seatbelt too it’s not comfy at all. Also short so maybe it’s a short persons thing as well but v annoying

The strap always shifts to between the breasts and that aligns it with the neck. No amount of adjusting can fight that.

The design is inherently flawed.

And this is helpful because?

Fluffy fake sheepskin seat belt buddies are essential for me. I’ve adjusted the seat belt to its lowest height on the side wall but it still cuts across my neck. I hate it and it’s uncomfortable. The fluffy seat belt buddy makes it soft and actually helps to hold the belt in a more comfortable position because it must kind of grip onto my clothes. The buddy sits between my boobs and tends to stay there and keeps the belt away from my neck.

I bought one for my DD too once she was out of her child seat. Same problem with the belt cutting across her neck but the seat belt heights in the back seat can’t be adjusted. She’s also short.

Me too, it's a real danger and if I crash I won't be protected, I'll be strangled. As previous posters have said - designed by men for men.

You’re short. Get a clip that pulls the crossbody seatbelt down.

Doesn't work. I'm 5' with no boobs, and not only does the seatbelt strangle me the headrest doesn't adjust. When I look for a car I have to find one where my feet are safe on the pedals. To find a car where my feet reach, the seatbelt is comfortable and the headrest is in the right place is impossible. Even small cars don't fit properly. I just go with whatever I can get at the time as long as the pedals are okay.