A 3 point seat
belt, or harness, is a seat belt that has three points of resistance instead of just
two.
A two point seat belt is like a simple belt seat
belt that goes around your waist. A three point seat belt, however, is a seat belt that has a belt
going across your waist, that also loops up and over your shoulder.
The name “3 point seat belt” comes from the three
points of resistance, meaning the two points on either side of your waist, and also the point above
your shoulder.
In the event of a sudden stop or
decrease in speed, you would have three points of contact to hold you back instead of only two. The
more points of contact you have in the event of a sudden loss of speed, the better off you are,
which explains why the 4 point
harnesses are often used for car racing.
If your 3 point harness is broken or in need of repair,
it is very important that you get it fixed. This is not expensive, or even hard to do.
Simply take it to the dealer or any certified auto repair
mechanic, and they can get this taken care of for you. In fact, you might even be able to do the job yourself if
you are mechanically inclined, though on most newer vehicles the job is significantly more detailed.
It used to be a fact that they were just bolted on, but nowadays,
there are electronics involved that make 3 point seat belts a lot more complicated. Still, it is not that
expensive to get fixed, and in most places, it is the law.
You need to have seatbelts working, not only for your safety, but
also so that you don’t get a ticket! A 3 point seat belt is about the best thing you can do to protect
yourself in your everyday automobile.