Question about roll cages
03-13-2013, 05:45 PM
#1
Question about roll cages
My aunt has a Cobalt sedan and is thinking of giving it to her son when he gets his license. He takes medication for seizures and it does a good job of controlling it. She wants to get the car fitted for a roll cage and a 5-point harness. Is this overkill and will it really do anything as far as safety in low speeds. I ask this because she lives in a small town and it would only be used for back and forth to High School and not at all used for highway travel. I just need some info for some peace of mind for her before she shells out big money to have this done.
03-13-2013, 05:49 PM
#2
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I had a 6point cage in my 03 cobra, it really depends on the cage design, and whether or not it's bolted in or welded in. Honestly if he is only going low speeds and back n fourth driving, I think the airbags and stock seat belts will do the job just fine. A full cage and harness will be overkill and a waste IMO, not only that a pain in the ass to get in and out of on a daily basis even with swing outs.
03-13-2013, 05:58 PM
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99% of insurance companies will not insure a car with a roll cage, the car was engineered to crumple in certain spots and installing one changes that. As well in race cars the driver has a helmet, if he gets in an accident, any passengers in the back and even front depending on how the cage is routed could get severely injured from smacking their head on the cage. And lastly 5 point harnesses are not dot approved and if your state requires any safety's it would fail unless he had stock belts in the car as well.
03-13-2013, 06:04 PM
#5
99% of insurance companies will not insure a car with a roll cage, the car was engineered to crumple in certain spots and installing one changes that. As well in race cars the driver has a helmet, if he gets in an accident, any passengers in the back and even front depending on how the cage is routed could get severely injured from smacking their head on the cage. And lastly 5 point harnesses are not dot approved and if your state requires any safety's it would fail unless he had stock belts in the car as well.
03-13-2013, 06:26 PM
#9
No offense. That's also something I threw at her and she is still debating it. His condition has gotten a lot better and hasn't had an issue in a while... but there is always that chance that something could happen. Luckily he is only 16 right now but once he turns 18 his mom can't hold him back any longer. I know where she is coming from with these ideas because she wants to protect her son but like you said, you also have to think of others on the road.
03-13-2013, 06:36 PM
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Does that state allow people at risk of seizures to even get a licence? Usually if they have had one in x amount of time they cannot get one, my uncle is epileptic and hasn't had one in like 15 years, he doesn't even want to get one in case he took one and killed someone. But when he was younger he was not even able to get his licence
03-13-2013, 06:50 PM
#12
My dad blacked out driving once and crashed. His drivers license was automatically suspended until a dr agreed he was ok to drive again and he hadn't had a problem in like 6 months.
Cars are built to be safe in a crash. The body crumples to absorb the impact. Seat belts and air bags will keep occupants from bouncing around off stuff. On the street that's plenty.
Cars are built to be safe in a crash. The body crumples to absorb the impact. Seat belts and air bags will keep occupants from bouncing around off stuff. On the street that's plenty.
03-13-2013, 06:51 PM
#13
Does that state allow people at risk of seizures to even get a licence? Usually if they have had one in x amount of time they cannot get one, my uncle is epileptic and hasn't had one in like 15 years, he doesn't even want to get one in case he took one and killed someone. But when he was younger he was not even able to get his licence
03-13-2013, 07:07 PM
#14
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i could see the point in trying to give the car some added strength in specific areas.. i mean in a seizure situation he could possibly floor it, then your going to be factoring in a bunch of unknown variables...
03-16-2013, 11:41 AM
#15
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I understand the thoughts about a cage. We have a racing division that uses four cylindet fwd cars. The cages we use only reinforce the inside of the car. The crumple zones are not effected by them. SW out of Pa custom makes the cage for each vehicle. You just have to get it welded up. Air bags and factory seat belt can be used. As for the harness. There is a 5 point harness that hooks to the seat and a Ybelt that clips to the child seat hook in the back seat. Hope this helps you.
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