TO:LINCOLN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY ENGINEERS I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A SAFETY ISSUE THAT EFFECTS MANY LARGE INDIVIDUALS THAT DRIVE AUTOMOBILES. AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH TWO ACADEMIC DEGREES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, I COULD NOT SIT BY WITHOUT EVALUATING THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND PASS ALONG SOME HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE LENGTH OF THE SEATBELT IS INADEQUATE TO ALLOW ENGAGEMENT, LEAVING ME IN A VERY UNSAFE POSITION WHEN DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS AND TRUCKS AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE IN ONLY TWO OF THEM. ONE IS MY PRESENT CAR, THE 1991 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, AND THE OTHER WAS A 1997 FULL SIZE DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. THE BASIC PROBLEM IS LACK OF BELT LENGTH TO WRAP AROUND THE MID-DRIFT OF A LARGE PERSON. IT IS DISTURBING TO THINK THAT EVEN AN AVERAGE SIZED PREGNANT WOMAN MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THIS SAME ISSUE IN YOUR VEHICLE. IN MY CASE, THE SEAT IS IN THE FULL REAR POSITION AND I HAVE AMPLE ROOM BETWEEN MY MID-DRIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL (ABOUT 2-3 INCHES). I DO CONSIDER MYSELF A LARGE MAN, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A SEATBELT SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM FLAWLESSLY WITH ANY TYPE OF BODY STYLE THAT CAN COMFORTABLY OPERATE YOUR AUTOMOBILE. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM? REDESIGN THE SEATBELTS WITH LONGER BELTS. AS AN ENGINEER, I WOULD SAY THAT ANOTHER 16" WOULD SUFFICE. I HOPE THAT THESE OBSERVATIONS MAY HELP YOU MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND DODGE RAM TRUCK ARE BOTH LARGE VEHICLES DRIVEN BY LARGE PEOPLE, LETS MAKE THEM SAFE AS WELL. I WILL ALSO EMAIL COPIES OF THIS LETTER TO YOUR SALES AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT, AND VARIOUS SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS. HOPEFULLY YOUR ENGINEERS WILL FIND THIS INFORMATION USEFUL. I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF YOUR ENGINEERS COULD MAKE UP A 12-16" SEATBELT EXTENSION THAT I COULD USE TO ENGAGE MY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT WOULD BE A FINE TOKEN OF FORD'S DEDICATION TO SAFETY.
- NHTSA ID
- 709751
- Incident
- Feb 15, 1998