Injury using seat belt

[Mister Ed]

I noticed from the beginning that I have had to stretch real far back to grab the seat belt with my right hand. I now have pain in my right shoulder. I went to the doctor and his opinion was that I may have a torn rotator cuff as a result of reaching too far for the seat belt. (I did first ask him if that would cause an injury, so he had a heads-up.) The way I am able to attach the seat belt now is to reach back with my left hand and pull it forward so I can easily, without pain, grab it with my right hand.

Has anyone out there had a similar experience?

[jefferios]

Yikes, sorry to hear. I have not had any issues grabbing the seat belt. You may want a response from some others...I am not a good representation of SCOA as I am 21.

[Westfield 11]

I get a sore neck from scrunching down to look under the mirror for traffic entering from the right. The same thing happens when approaching gentle hills: there just isn't much room between the bottom of the mirror and the top of the dashboard. It is really hard to see street signs on the right side of the car too. smart must have been worried about drivers getting hit from behind, but I just wish I could put in a smaller mirror so I could see in front of me! Or lower the seat.....

[NCC1701]

I grab the belt by the buckle. Since I lost the little button thing which prevents the buckle from sliding too far down the belt, the stretch to grab it is much more of a reach. I'm wondering if you have the same situation. Do you grab it by the buckle, and is the buckle sliding way down between the door and seat?

No, haven't had your specific problem. I do have tendinitis in my left shoulder.

[skyzdlimit59]

Sorry to hear about your injury Mister Ed. I have not had this problem, and I do reach for the belt with my right hand.

[jwight]

Sounds like the old joke, Guy goes to the doctor and says every time I hold my arm like this it really hurts - what should I do? Doctor says, stop holding your arm like that.

Anyway, I use my left hand and try to leave the seatbelt looped over the seat back when I get out instead of letting it fall between the seat and the door. Much easier to find the next time.

PS -

I am not a good representation of SCOA as I am 21.

I resemble that remark!

[jetfuel]

...the problem gets worst when you are vertically challenge...as the seat sits so far forward...lol....but the view is excellent....

jetfuel

[Alan From New York]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

... The way I am able to attach the seat belt now is to reach back with my left hand and pull it forward so I can easily, without pain, grab it with my right hand.

Has anyone out there had a similar experience?

As a lefty, that's the way I do it.

[a2jack]

I use the same method as "J" and loop the belt over the seat when I get out. Tis a real pain when I forget.

[mvaldes]

You could try adding one of the Smart logo seat belt pads they sell on eBay for about $12 (nice looking and well made, BTW.) They keep the belt from retracting all the way which makes it easier to grab.