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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off with seatbelts?

137 replies

TheAverageJoanne · 01/08/2023 12:51

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
alexdgr8 · 01/08/2023 16:33

remember it is a head restraint, not a head rest.
it is not meant to be comfortable. it should extend above your head, with the main part of it at the middle of your head.
it is to prevent your neck being extended backwards in an impact, to prevent your head riding over the back of the seat.

Hesma · 01/08/2023 16:34

Lower it at the top where the belt meets the car. I only found out about a year ago you can do this… game changer!

UndercoverCop · 01/08/2023 16:35

@INeedAnotherName that was my point, lots of people saying seatbelts are not designed for women because women are short and have boobs which get in the way. Neither of those things applies to me but I'm still a woman

talkingdeadscot · 01/08/2023 16:36

alexdgr8 · 01/08/2023 16:33

remember it is a head restraint, not a head rest.
it is not meant to be comfortable. it should extend above your head, with the main part of it at the middle of your head.
it is to prevent your neck being extended backwards in an impact, to prevent your head riding over the back of the seat.

The top of my head comes to the bottom of the head restraint. I always thought that wasn't a problem but would be if my head was above the restraint.

marshmallowfinder · 01/08/2023 16:49

PearlHandle · 01/08/2023 13:39

Good idea, but for short people, it can take you up away from the pedals a little, so depressing the clutch becomes even harder with a short leg!

TenderDandelions · 01/08/2023 17:05

blobby10 · 01/08/2023 13:34

I'm 5ft 9" and have that problem in some cars - admittedly I have a short torso compared to leg length but its not just a short person issue.

Interesting, I'm not short either - I'm 5'8" and my seatbelt is set on the lowest setting, but it still happens. My DH is 5'10" yet my legs are longer than his (I have to have my seat further back than him, despite him being taller and slouching). Perhaps this is my issue also.

I am blessed with erm, ample, bosoms, and have this issue mainly if I'm wearing either a sports bra or something silky. If I can force the seatbelt to sit between my boobs then it's OK, but a sports bra that has no "separation" and anything silky just sends the seatbelt swooshing to the left of my boobs and digging in my neck.

I too have wondered what would happen if I had an accident. I'm not sure what the answer is though - short of some sort of full body harness!

Judellie · 01/08/2023 17:27

This happens to me too as i'm short with big boobs. Even worse tho are those machines where you have to take a ticket to go thro the barrier, I can NEVER reach and end up sending my passenger out of the car to get it, if i have a passenger.............

PrrrplePineapple · 01/08/2023 17:29

It's boobs which are the issue. Seatbelts slide up and over them. This is not an issue for flat chested people!

BillaBongGirl · 01/08/2023 17:32

GingerIsBest · 01/08/2023 14:49

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.

Show quote history

? My seatbelt crosses between my boobs, not to the side of them, so it goes from hip, across my sternum between my boobs and then to my opposite shoulder.

BillaBongGirl · 01/08/2023 17:35

UndercoverCop · 01/08/2023 16:35

@INeedAnotherName that was my point, lots of people saying seatbelts are not designed for women because women are short and have boobs which get in the way. Neither of those things applies to me but I'm still a woman

I’m 5 foot nothing with fairly large boobs and I have no issues with seatbelts once I’ve adjusted the height of them, so the comments make no sense to me either.

BillaBongGirl · 01/08/2023 17:37

PrrrplePineapple · 01/08/2023 17:29

It's boobs which are the issue. Seatbelts slide up and over them. This is not an issue for flat chested people!

Boobs are no issue for me, or for this woman who has boobs larger than mine.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/08/2023 17:38

Makes me really cross that so much in the world is designed for men

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/08/2023 17:39

I have quite a long body so these are ok for me, but so much isn’t. Chairs usually. And don’t get me started on office / conference room temperatures

eatdrinkandbemerry · 01/08/2023 17:46

I feel your pain 😩
I have to sit in the back due to our disabled child but I'm only 5 foot and the seatbelt doesn't adjust.
I'm seriously considering buying a booster seat to sit on (other half thinks that's insane) because honestly if he breaks hard it almost decapitates me and leaves an awful red mark across my neck 😩.
I've tried a normal cushion but they just go flat on a journey.

truthhurts23 · 01/08/2023 18:03

because of the boobs

Cazzovuoi · 01/08/2023 18:06

temosmail · 01/08/2023 14:13

White?

Show quote history

Yes, white males. As in not any other race.

LadyLolaRuben · 01/08/2023 18:09

Another one.. petrol pumps...designed for large male hands

temosmail · 01/08/2023 18:10

@Cazzovuoi and white men bodies are different how?

temosmail · 01/08/2023 18:10

eatdrinkandbemerry · 01/08/2023 17:46

I feel your pain 😩
I have to sit in the back due to our disabled child but I'm only 5 foot and the seatbelt doesn't adjust.
I'm seriously considering buying a booster seat to sit on (other half thinks that's insane) because honestly if he breaks hard it almost decapitates me and leaves an awful red mark across my neck 😩.
I've tried a normal cushion but they just go flat on a journey.

WhT about a cushion?

Original poster
TheAverageJoanne · 01/08/2023 18:12

TimeForTeaAndG · 01/08/2023 12:53

Around your neck? Do you mean it sits too high and cuts across your neck?

Most cars have adjustable height where the belt goes into the door frame if it's the front seats.
Are you relatively short?

Yes it's this and yes I'm 5' 1".

OP posts:
temosmail · 01/08/2023 18:12

www.easylife.co.uk/product/memory-foam-car-seat-cushion/7229 driving cushion

Escapetofrance · 01/08/2023 18:13

My grandmother used to tie a hankie around her seatbelt to stop it hurting her neck.

Original poster
TheAverageJoanne · 01/08/2023 18:13

fyn · 01/08/2023 13:13

I get this, I assume because I am short with very large boobs. Absolutely hate it!

I'm also a 42E. Thanks for the replies I thought it was just me!

OP posts:
gogomoto · 01/08/2023 18:14

My car is fine, dps car strangles me, I'm 5'6 so not short

alexdgr8 · 01/08/2023 18:16

talkingdeadscot · 01/08/2023 16:36

The top of my head comes to the bottom of the head restraint. I always thought that wasn't a problem but would be if my head was above the restraint.

Show quote history

you are right, that is perfectly ok.
some people used to try to lower the head restraint so that they could lean/ rest their head on it.
that was the evil i was urging against.
many now are molded on as part of the seat and cannot be lowered, which is better.