Looking at this video of a 2009 Dodge ram crash test, I can't help but notice the occupants all go forward even with the shoulder belts on. They don't seem to do very much to keep the dummies from getting a face full of airbag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39swV...eature=related

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Yes they do ! They keep you in your seat. I speak from experience. Almost 4 years ago i lost control of an armored truck. My truck skid on the highway during a slight rain on a diesel spill and hit the retainer wall at 65 mph going over the wall and flipping 4 times and i was saved by the seatbelt without mayor injuries. Every now and then i get a pain in my left shoulder but i could been worse. So the shoulder belt works, trust me. Use it all the time and you'll live longer... Good luck...

 

YES they do! Like was already said they keep you in the seat. Also they keep you from basking your face on the steering wheel in the event you have a collision and don't have time to brace yourself.

One thing that is frequently ignored by the anti seatbelt people is that the harness is just one piece in the puzzle. You also have seatbelt pretensioners which explode and tighten in a crash. Also the airbag has a sensor in it that determines whether or not you are belted and will deploy the bag at the time it thinks is best. If you have your belt on, you are less likely to have an airbag punch you in the face.

If you have ever been hit with an airbag, its not pleasant!

Wear the belt or don't wear the belt, its your choice (I know you have to by law). But you should be aware that the belt is a puzzle piece to help you avoid serious injury in a crash.

 

Well now...don't I feel lectured.

 

Well I certainly didn't intend to lecture. He asked a legitimate question and I gave a legitimate answer. I happen to know a little bit about seatbelt use and how the airbag works.

Sorry if I offended you.

 

Where is the question in his post?

 

How about the thread title?....... "Shoulder belts do anything?"

Did you seriously respond just to be a troll or do you have anything to offer?

 

The camera placement in the NHTSA video kind of sucks. Here's a little better video done by Rusty Haight of Collision Safety Institute. You can see that the shoulder harness does allow them both to move forward slightly but restrains them enough that they're not getting the full force of the airbag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgRyXiO3hGQ

 

What do you mean by troll?

 

forget it....