Racing Safety Harnesses: A Comprehensive Guide
You may have been looking into purchasing a racing seat for your RSX, and seen that you can also get racing harnesses. You may already have a racing seat and want a little bit more restraint. Or maybe you need harnesses for sanctioned racing activities. Either way, you've come to the right place so I can answer your questions. This article will go through the legal and safety implications of installing a harness, describe the different types available, and what you need to install them.
Disclaimer: I do not advise modifying any safety equipment in your car, I only aim to educate you on the differences and ways it can be achieved. It's your job to make sure you understand the risks and benefits of each option and make the choice for yourself.
Note: If you purchase your supplies from my Amazon links, it will support this website at no extra cost to you. : ) Thank you.
Racing Harnesses
If you're driving your RSX at its limit, you'll probably be sliding around in the seat a lot. A big improvement can be experienced by swapping the stock seats out for aftermarket racing seats that hold you in better, but a lot of people also choose to do racing harnesses at the same time for a more secure restraint in the vehicle. Racing harnesses can really help you focus less on holding on, and more on proper driving technique, so there's a big potential improvement to be made here. However, there's a few considerations you'll want to look into before you purchase one.
Legality
If you live in the USA, most racing harnesses are not street-legal. They can get you into some trouble if you're caught driving with them on public roads, and maybe be an extra expense in the form of a citation or other ticket. There are some exceptions. Of course your stock 3-point seatbelt is perfectly fine. Also, some 4-point harnesses are legal to use on the street. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval doesn't mean a certain harness was signed off by the DOT, but that the manufacturer built it to fit into the DOT standards. Usually what qualifies a harness for DOT approval can be features like load limiters, pre-tensioners, and locking mechanisms that allow them to be used safely on the road.
Regulating Standards and Harness Expiration
There are two main regulating bodies responsible for certifying safe operation of harnesses, in addition to cheaper options with no certification.
- None - You don't want these. They might look fine, but seatbelts are for your safety. Someone loves you, don't neglect your safety, please.
- SFI - Harnesses certified under any level of SFI certification are valid for 2 years from the date of manufacture. SFI belts typically are made with nylon webbing that degrades over this period from UV exposure. SFI will certify 5 or 6-point harnesses. I recommend that you replace these after their expiry to maintain functionality in the event of a crash. There are two specifications of SFI certification relevant to the RSX:
- SFI 16.1 - 5 or 6 point. Good breaking load.
- SFI 16.5 - 5 or 6 point. Better breaking load. Adds webbing abrasion test and roller adjuster micro-slip test.
- FIA - Harnesses certified by the FIA are valid for 5 years following the year of manufacture, so usually about 6 years. They use a superior polyester webbing that stretches less than nylon, and is more resistant to UV, and the elements. These harnesses have to pass tests including a crash sled test, among others. They're usually more expensive than SFI certified belts because of the extra testing. FIA will only certify 6-point harnesses. I recommend that you replace these after expiry to maintain functionality in the even of a crash.
Latch Types
There's two main latch types:
- Latch-and-Link
- Camlock
Latch-and-Link latches are the most common, and are a fairly simple construction. The belts must be individually unlatched. Slower to use.
Camlock latches are usually a little bit more expensive, but are easier to buckle and unbuckle. If you press the button, or lever, all of the belts are released at once. This can be safer if you have to leave the vehicle very quickly.
Belt Widths
There are 3 different belt width layouts:
- 2" Width
- 3" Width
- 3" Width with 2" Lap Belts
2" width belts are pretty cool. They are compatible with most HANS devices (mentioned below) and safe to use on your shoulders and iliac crest, AKA "hip pocket" (not waist). This is a really good option for skinnier people. This is the direction the industry is moving, and most serious racing organizations require this kind.
3" belts can't fit in your "hip pocket" due to their size. They're also not stronger inherently than 2" belts. They're chunkier than 2" belts and harder to get in and out of, or fit in some smaller cars. I would stay away from these to avoid potential tissue damage in the event of an accident.
3" belts with 2" lap belt harnesses serve to solve the hip pocket problem of the 2" belts. These can be more comfortable depending on your anatomy. If you're broader, it may be worth trying a 3" shoulder belt, and you get the bonus of the 2" lap belt.
HANS Devices
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| The HANS is Attached to the Rear of the Helmet |
After the death of Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR, NHRA and Formula 1 made HANS devices mandatory. These devices keep your head secure from whipping back and forward in a crash to prevent skull fractures. It does significantly reduce your head movement (it's supposed to), so it's not at all recommended on the street. This requires the use of a competition racing helmet. As you can see, HANS devices are not appropriate for the street. HANS devices work in conjunction with a helmet, harness bar or roll cage, racing seat, and 5 or 6-point harness. This is similar to the way airbags work in conjunction with your 3-point harness. It only takes one crash to kill or injure you for life. Please take that seriously.
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| HANS Device |
A Word on Airbags
The invention of the seatbelt and airbag were literally life-changing. Reducing your chance of dying in an accident by 61% when used together, that's a huge safety benefit. The Acura RSX also has side-impact airbags built into the stock seats to protect the driver in the event of a side impact. Removing the stock driver's seat removes that benefit, and if you have a quick-release racing steering wheel, that lowers your chances of survival even more.
With 5 and 6-point harnesses, the airbag probably won't extend far enough to cushion your head and neck in the event of a crash. What I'm trying to say is... if you drive on the street, or your racing organization doesn't require racing harnesses, keep the 3-point harness and airbag setup. If you only use the car on the track, you should consider a HANS device and the previously mentioned safety equipment.
Here's a trustworthy source, the IIHS, speaking about airbags if you'd like more statistics.
Brands
This is your safety, so it's worth only considering popular mainstream brands. Avoid anything on AliExpress or anything Amazon with weird brand names for anything except a racing sim setup. Here's a list of good brands to consider; I'll link the product pages so you can check out their offerings if you want:
- Schroth - High end, expensive, innovative harnesses. Worth their weight in gold. Street Legal and Racing offerings.
- RaceQuip - Reasonably affordable, widely used. Many offerings.
- Sparco - Known for their racing seats and steering wheels. OEM manufacturer. Street Legal and Racing offerings.
- NRG - Known for their racing seats and steering wheels. Budget prices. Few offerings.
- Braum - Budget prices. One Street Legal and one Racing option.
Cipher - Budget prices.Most products aren't certified that I can tell.Corbeau - Known for their racing seats and steering wheels.No options worth looking at.Momo - Known for their racing seats and steering wheels.One option, not worth looking at.- G-Force - Reasonably affordable, widely used. Many offerings.
- Simpson - High and low budget options. Racing offerings only.
- Takata - Airbag and seatbelt manufacturer. Many offerings.
- K-Series Parts - Middleman, not manufacturer. I shop with them and they're okay to buy things from. They have a good selection of harnesses.
3-Point Harness (Stock)
To compare with your other options, we'll start with the stock seatbelt in your RSX. This is a typical 3-point harness. It balances comfort, adjustability, ease of use, and safety. These are great because you can have an adjustable seat with them, and they'll stay tight like they're supposed to.
The three points are:
- Lap Belt - Prevents forward movement at the hips.
- Should Belt - Prevents upper body movement, and distributes force across the chest and shoulder.
- Single Point Anchor - Where the first two belts converge.
These are street legal (duh) and have locking mechanisms, load limiters, pre-tensioners, and are usually pretty good at keeping you safe in a crash. They're designed to work in combination with airbags to save your life.
4-Point Harness
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| TRS 4-Point Harness |
With the addition of a fourth point, upper body stability in a crash situation is improved. These are often used in racing to provide some additional protection while remaining street-legal. Some cars come with them as an option, such as the Lotus Exige and a few other track-focused models. They can be used with stock seats, but are better suited to aftermarket racing seats.
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| Takata 4-Point Harness in an RSX |
The four points are:
- Lap Belt - Prevents forward movement at the hips.
- Shoulder Belt 1 - Crosses diagonally over the chest to the shoulder to distribute force more evenly.
- Shoulder Belt 2 - Crosses diagonally over the chest in the other direction to the shoulder to distribute force more evenly.
- Single Point Anchor - Where the hip and shoulder belts converge and are attached to the vehicle.
If you plan on driving with these on the street, keep in mind that you'll want a DOT-approved product. Usually you should only use these with fixed car seats, but some use the stock RSX seats for these. You either need a harness bar or roll cage of some kind to mount them. There's still a risk of submarining, or sliding under the lap belt in the event of a crash, much like with a 3-point harness. These next belts aim to fix that problem.
NOTE: Don't buy a 4-point harness on Amazon. In my opinion, there are no trustworthy brands to buy from on there that I have experience with. Check the websites of the suppliers I listed above.
5-Point Harness
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| NRG 5-Point Camlock Harness |
The 5-point harness adds a belt between your legs, the crotch strap. The intention of this is to prevent submarining in the event of a crash. This design is a bit more maneuverable than the 6-point harness. If you plan on driving with one of these on the street, there's a couple risks to worry about that scare me away from five-point harnesses personally. One of those is affectionately known as "genital gloving," in which there's pelvic damage and your anatomical male parts may have partial or full skin removal. Don't look up pictures probably. Proper belt install and adjustment can avoid this, but there's still a slight risk since the belt crosses over where your "manhood" sits. These belts can also be uncomfortable for daily-driving because of this.
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| Braum 5-Point Harness in an RSX |
The five points are:
- Lap Belt - Still used to prevent forward movement at the hips.
- Dual Shoulder Belts - Crosses diagonally over the chest to the shoulder to distribute force more evenly.
- Crotch Strap - Runs in between passenger's legs, and connects to an anchor point.
- Lap and Shoulder Belt Anchor - Where the hip and shoulder belts converge and are attached to the vehicle.
- Crotch Strap Anchor - Where the crotch strap attaches to the vehicle.
There are no US DOT-legal 5-point harnesses available for purchase. Usually you should only use these with fixed car seats. You either need a harness bar or roll cage of some kind to mount them.
6-Point Harness
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| Schroth Clubman 6-Point Harness |
This type of harness aims to fix the downfall of the five-point harness, by adding another crotch strap. This grips your thighs more than your pelvic area, removing the risk of genital gloving (phew). 6-point harness-compatible seats are available, but you can also use them with 5-point seats - the two crotch straps come through the center hole.
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| 6-Point Harness... Not in an RSX (Couldn't Find One, Oops) |
The six points are:
- Lap Belt - Still used to prevent forward movement at the hips.
- Dual Shoulder Belts - Crosses diagonally over the chest to the shoulder to distribute force more evenly.
- Crotch Strap 1 - Runs in between passenger's legs, and connects to an anchor point.
- Crotch Strap 2 - Runs in between passenger's legs, and connects to an anchor point.
- Lap and Shoulder Belt Anchor - Where the hip and shoulder belts converge and are attached to the vehicle.
- Crotch Strap Anchor - Where the crotch strap attaches to the vehicle.
There are no US DOT-legal 6-point harnesses available for purchase. Usually you should only use these with fixed car seats. You either need a harness bar or roll cage of some kind to mount them.
7+ Point Harness
These are used less often in cars on the track and street, and mainly for NASCAR and NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing and Funny Car Drag Racing. They are out of the scope of this article because our humble RSX doesn't qualify for these.
Harness Bars
A harness bar allows you to attach additional harness points (4, 5 or 6), and they're a necessity. They're affixed at your shoulder height or within 20 degrees below, at a maximum of 200mm behind the seat. There's a couple different manufacturers of harness bars for the RSX. In truth, they're a bit of a universal part. Expect to pay about $220 for one. Keep in mind it may make your back seats uninhabitable, or increase the risk of your back seat passengers death or injury in a crash.
I hope you learned something valuable from my guide. I'll be updating it and writing a how-to as I install a harness on my own car soon. Thanks for reading!
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