How to Get a Seat Belt to Fit Properly and Comfortably with a Large Chest?

Updated on February 11, 2012
M.P. asks from Minneapolis, MN
13 answers

I have a very large chest, my seat belt will not stay in place, and ends up at my neck. I read recently of someone being partially decapitated in an accident, because the belt was against her neck. Their young children had to witness this. Of course this person perished, and even a small cut to the neck is so dangerous. I tried a device that was supposed to bring it down further, that only makes the lap belt tighter, and I need it to stay across my chest and shoulder. Any suggestions?

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So What Happened?

by belt wont go between my breasts it slides off to my neck every time. Thanks for the Fire fighter suggestions.

One: dont know if its my Heinie I want covered by the belt. hahah

Riley UGH the pain right? You might be Anime and I am Hentai... yeah triple and quad d's on given days and sometimes E... Yuck these guys are getting a serious diet by knife when my son stops nursing.

Jo I dont mind. While I dont dress to impress, I do wear a minimizer and a pull up perker bra. When I wear these, this tends to make it worse. Kinda imagine the hulk on a not so bad day. I dont wear button blouses with out the cast iron bra. if I go Ala Causawala, its better but still some in my neck.

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L.R.

answers from Milwaukee on

I am a 46 H and it happens to me all the time! Ugh! So frustrating! I don't have any suggestions, just want you to know you are NOT alone! :)

I have used the seat belt clips from walmart...they work pretty good.They pop off sometimes but you should try them!

1 mom found this helpful

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

From someone who usually has quad Ds, and after my son was born had anime-boobies (each one was Bigger. Than. My. Head. They weighed 25 & 27 pounds EACH)...

... It's less about breast size and FAR MORE about where the shoulder strap *starts*.

Most cars have an adjustable shoulder strap to car point. Ours goes low enough that my son could wear his across his sternum when he was 3.5 feet tall... but not all straps do.

They have shoulder belt lowerers, and there are racing belts (4-6 point harnesses) that you can add onto your car. The lowerer is the cheaper option. PERSONALLY... I prefer the racing harness... but my family raced. They adjust so that the straps ONLY hit your "hard parts". http://www.saferacer.com/auto-racing-parts/harness/?cat=5...

3 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

The odds of being decapitated by seat belt are slim to none. You could also potentially get severed in half by the lap belt, but guess what: There's only a .0004% chance of that happening if you're in an accident.

Slide the seatbelt all the way down on the side of the vehicle where the seat belt comes out. Rest the belt either between your breasts or under.

Seat belts are not tested with added devices, so I wouldn't use that at all. You compromise the integrity of the belt when adding extra pieces.

If you're still confused, ask a firefighter. They can put child seats in, I figure they'll know the answer to this as well.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Where the strap attaches above--can you adjust it sown or up, as needed?

Heine OK? LOL

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Don't take this the wrong way but what kind of tops are you wearing? My belt sits right between the boobs. :)

I do have the height adjustment set at the lowest so the belt comes across my shoulder and doesn't hover above. I know older cars don't have that feature, I love it. Hum, if I remember the belt didn't fit well before that feature was introduced. :(

I think they make things that redirect the belt but I don't know where.

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I am usually a 34 or 36 band and at least a DDD cup in most bras. Having struggled with properly fitting bras my whole life, your problem sounds familiar. It sounds like your cup size is too small. Bras should lift and separate and not create what I call a "boob bar" across the front. The underwire should always lay against the sternum. If it doesn't, the cup is too small. When they fit properly, you won't have this riding up problem as the belt should fit between the breasts. I have this problem when I wear a sports bra and drive. The boob bar. And sure enough my seat belt rides up. But with my day-to-day minimizer bra, the belt fits between.

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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

38G here... and they've gone down thank god since I stopped nursing. But I had double d's when I was in middle school. I've always since I can remember been absurdly big. So I've dealt with these issues for nearly 20 years already!

I've found the belt problem is usually solved if you are wearing a well made correct sized bra. Actually go to a lingerie store and let someone measure you properly. We can switch bra sizes every few months even! They always say 75% of women are found to be wearing the incorrect size. If they aren't completely divided, in the cups entirely (nothing peeking out either side), back strap shouldn't ride up, straps shouldn't be digging in, I could go on and on....

But if they aren't clearly divided and you have no large indentation in the center of your bra that creates two separate peaks than your belt isn't going to stay between them. More than likely that is your problem. I can always tell when I need a new bra because that belt stops sitting where it ought to set. It goes to my neck just like yours but if I have a good bra (and I have to order mine online) it will sit right between your breasts.

Good luck with the surgery if you decide to go through with it. I've kicked it around in my brain for ages. I qualify because of back problems and posture problems for insurance to help pay for it but I don't think I'm going to bother. Breast cancer is high in my family and I figure I'll have to get surgery when I'm in my 40's anyways. :(

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

I am not sure what kind of device you tried. I have this issue in my husband's truck. It's irritating and uncomfortable. I never worried about being decapitated. I bought a simple clip for the belt. It just pulls the lap belt down a bit and does not move the lap belt at all. I doubt this makes things safer, but I am much more comfortable. Maybe try a different device?

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S.T.

answers from Nashville on

I am not large chested (34D isn't considered large is it?) anyway, I have the same problem!!! When you find a solution can you share!?! I did notice once when I was wearing a bra that didn't emphasize the cleavage (kinda separated "the girls" that the seatbelt seemed to stay where it was supposed to until I moved my arms (like turning the steering wheel or turning a little to check over my shoulder.). that may have something to do with that....

1 mom found this helpful
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B.D.

answers from Waterloo on

Try a seatbelt extender, this make the lap bigger and that positions the shoulder belt differently. This usually cost about $35 if they are not free. We have a Chrysler and they are $35 at dealership. Check at your local dealer and they will tell you what the cost of them is.

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

I got a 2 pack of seat belt holder clips at Walmart for less than $3. I put them in every car I own for the same reason. When you are bigger, it doesn't matter what you wear, I can wear pretty much any bra and it gets bad and worse. Anyway, these clips are plastic, stay on the part that goes over your lap and then you slip the shoulder belt into a "hook" on the front. It might pop out every once in a while, but they are life savers. My dad got something from the auto parts store that goes on the seatbelt by where it attaches, but I don't like them as much. They also sell a triangle looking pocket to put the seat belt in, these are usually for kids, and they suck! don't waste your money. I hope that helps. If you can't find them, then let me know and I can get a pack and send them to you.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Custom-Accessories-2pk-Seat-Bel... here is the link on walmart.com

1 mom found this helpful

Y.C.

answers from Orlando on

I have the same problem but I thought it was because I am 5".
I normally put it under my boobs but since still get on my neck at moments I just have the soft cover for it, it helps.

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A.N.

answers from Madison on

My MIL has the same problem. I don't know what device you are referring to, but here's a link to what she has and swears by it. The link is really long -- if it doesn't work, I just googled "seat belt extenders" and looked through the images (one end looks like either end of the seat belt, linking the two, and extending it across your lap)

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2...

1 mom found this helpful
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