Authorities in New Zealand are wrestling like Sgt. Slaughter and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat over whether to make a three-point belt retrofit mandatory in the nation's cars. While we feel much safer buckled in across the chest as well as the lap, the cost of re-equipping cars that originally featured only lap belts could be prohibitive for many Kiwis. And besides, if having three-pointers installed on your older car is so important to you, you'll have 'em regardless of law.
By the way, the reason we were compelled to post this is that the litany of injuries incurred by people wearing only lap belts read like something from a Slayer lyric sheet. To wit:
"Beyond an impact speed of 30kmh, the human body becomes a missile. Aortas tear, so they are ripped out of the heart, the organs smash against the ribs and rupture, and brain smashes against the skull and becomes pulp. In some accidents, body parts are torn away on impact but other bodies look relatively intact because you can't see the damage inside."
Ripping apart! Severing flesh! Gouging eyes! Tearing limb from limb!
Okay, sorry. Our teenage-regression Metal Moment has passed. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled dose of Cannibal Corpse.
Better seatbelts do not make older cars much safer [Stuff, NZ]
Related:
Chastise, Don't Punish: Brits Say Signs Reduce Speeds Better than Cameras [Internal]