Is it illegal to modify a 4-point seat belt?
2 Answers
Modifying a 4-point seat belt is not illegal, but installing a 4-point seat belt requires replacing it with a suitable sports safety seat. Function of 4-point seat belts: A typical 4-point seat belt includes two vertical straps that secure the occupant's chest and connect to a horizontal belt at the bottom. It is called a "4-point seat belt" because it has four attachment points inside the vehicle. 4-point seat belts have been used in racing cars for many years, and some automakers, such as Volvo, are now attempting to apply them to compact cars. Design purpose of 4-point seat belts: The design purpose is to distribute impact forces more evenly during a rollover and to firmly secure passengers in their seats.
As an experienced driver, I've seen quite a few cases of modified seat belts. The 4-point harness does look much cooler than regular seat belts, but you need to pay attention to traffic regulations. According to China's "Safety Technical Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operation", mass-produced vehicles must use 3-point seat belts that comply with national standards. If you remove the factory-installed seat belts and replace them with 4-point harnesses, your vehicle will definitely fail the annual inspection, and you'll have to restore them if stopped by traffic police. However, there's a special case: if you keep the original 3-point seat belts intact and install additional 4-point harnesses on the seats (like in racing cars), using the factory belts for daily city driving and the 4-point harnesses on the track, then it's not against regulations. But it's better not to modify the passenger seat and rear seats arbitrarily - safety first, after all.
