Someone has already mentioned the Hans device. With a rollbar/cage and harness system your head is going to simulate a slinky toy. If you are firmly achored to the seat with a harness your head is free to acclerate forward and down. The airbag won't be able to do what it was designed to do becasue you will be held firmly to the seat. That puts you in the realm of 'basal skull fracture' The way to reduce that motion is a H&N device, Hans etc.

On the other hand a frontal hit with the factory 3 point is going to let you travel slightly towards the wheel and impact the airbag. It's a system doing what it was designed to do.

 

Yup. I was worried about what my head would do with a harness, but no HANS. I was guessing that my body would stay in place, but my neck would snap because my head was moving forward and not hitting an airbag.

But then what happens on the track? Are you really supposed to use a HANS to protect your neck all the time?

 

You don't have to use a HANS (unless the track/race even requires so) but it is a good investment for your own safety. Its a little uncomfortable and takes getting used to but just about every serious track guy/race car driver uses the HANS device.

 

I use my HANS on the track. I do drive the car to/from the track on the streets and freeways, sometimes for a few hundred miles. When doing that, I don't wear the helmet and HANS.

 

Is it illegal to change the steering wheel with an airbag to aftermarket?

 

Might be. Probably illegal to pull out the 3-pts, too. It's illegal to remove the cat. It's illegal to smoke the lenses. In a lot of states, it's illegal to tint the windows. Etc. Your responsibility, your call.

Disabling/removing the airbags may have some insurance ramifications, too, if you try to make an injury claim.

 

In a crash or rollover scenario in which the driver/passenger looses consciousness, the OEM 3 point seatbelt can be easily cut by 1st responders and requires only one cut to release the driver/passenger.

A 4 or 5 point harness requires more than one cut of the harness material which is wider, thicker and stronger.

But at the track, since it is a controlled environment, corner workers have fire suppresion equipment on-hand and can get to the car in seconds to attend a driver who is wearing a helmet and is probably conscious.

 

Simple twist of the buckle and it all comes apart. But yeah, first responders (away from race tracks) are trained to not mess with seat belt releases and just to cut.

 

On the street, it is safer to leave the restraints as is.