Put seatbelts in your classic cars!, And use them! Options

[VaccaRabite]

I have gone back and forth on if I should post this or not, but here I am. Not going to name anyone or post any pictures, but the driver is a 914 guy also and may or may not pipe in with more details.

This weekend a friend of mine got to watch his son get ejected from the classic car he was driving. The car was a 50's era car that had no seat belts. Never had them and isn't required to have them registered as an antique. He was hit by an in-attentive driver behind him on a residential road.

His son, somewhat miraculously, was fine except for a bit of road rash on his arm and lower back. My friend had done just about everything right. Had been restoring the car since August. This was its first trip. It was all on back roads - no highways or faster speeds. He left early and was driving in broad daylight while alert. He was struck only 15 minutes from the show he was going to. Damage to the car was minimal - it was still drivable and the majority of the damage was fixed at the show over the weekend. But the hit caused the car to spin (think a Pitt Maneuver) and his kid got ejected.

The guy that hit him was not watching the road - he was turned around and yelling at his kids while driving. Instead of chilling at the show, my bud and his kid got several hours of EMTs, an ambulance, and police reports as well as the usual call to insurance after a literal fender bender.

Our 914 all have belts stock. But many of us have other cars that may not. Find a set of belts and install them. Even if you drive gently, you have no control over the distracted driver in a heavier faster car that is headed your way. This particular story ended well, but I know I give my kids rides in my car - and I can't help think about what I would have done if it was my Theo or Josh getting thrown from the car.

According to NHTSA, 77% of the people that get thrown from a car during a wreck do not survive their injuries. Obviously the extreme caution my friend used in choosing a route that would keep speeds down at the expense of a much longer drive likely saved his sons life. He's adding seatbelts to the car.

PSA over. Stay safe out there!

Zach