Another snatch strap death

I have witnessed someone attempting to snatch a 4x4 stuck in mud that was very close to a tragedy.

The stuck vehicle was too far from firm ground to reach with a single snatch so the people involved decided it was a good idea to join 2 snatch straps together with a shackle.

One of the straps failed where it was attached to the stuck vehicle resulting the the shackle in the middle being slingshotted towards the recovery vehicle. Luckily for the driver it hit the rear of the steel drop side tray. It very nearly punched a hole clean through it.

I would be surprised if a strap by itself would have enough mass to be too hazardous to either driver. Its when they are connected together or attached to the vehicle improperly that they pose a far greater risk.

I'm not sure anything "needs to be done" about this. The straps come with a lot of warnings and safety information. If people choose not to read or not to follow this information then they are choosing the risk. If straps are failing in normal usage and causing fatalities then this may mean they are not constructed properly or the standards are not rigorous enough. Not sure who is or should be investigating this? The coroner?

Hi,
There will always be the alcohol/testosterone factor, even if everything was double bubble wrapped.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by tact

Fair comment. So (lets hypothetically) burn/ban all snatch straps and make it so there is no option but get a $1000 winch fitted. Do you really expect all those snatch deaths to go to zero, and not see a corresponding increase in deaths by inappropriate use of winches?

Really?

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i would expect to see a corresponding increase in deaths by inappropriate use of winches.

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Originally Posted by Eevo

i would expect to see a corresponding increase in deaths by inappropriate use of winches.

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As would any sane/thinking person. Thank you.

There are several coroners reports online from death during vehicle recovery.
Every one of them shows inappropriate use of a recovery device.

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Originally Posted by tact

As would any sane/thinking person. Thank you.

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i might have missed the point you were making???

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Originally Posted by Eevo

i might have missed the point you were making???

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Am ok with that.

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Originally Posted by tact

Am ok with that.

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we seem to be agreeing a lot.

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Originally Posted by rammypluge

Are people suggesting that to solve the problem we legislate that all snatch straps sold must come with a paid up training course voucher, and a set of recovery points?
[...]

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Not what I am suggesting. Not what I have seen in any other posts. (May have missed something)

Not that it matters a razoo: I have more than suggested that it doesn't make a lot of sense if educated and experienced offroad drivers demonstrate the exact same cavalier attitude that the unwashed and unlearned bring to fatal recoveries. Things like:
- I don't need heavyweight recovery points on my vehicle, I am too experienced to get stuck so bad and always take the chicken track.

- I can drive so well & my vehicle is so superior offroad - that if I do ever get stuck only a light tug is all thats needed.

(As if accidents and lapses in judgement, leading to being stuck much worse than planned for, never happens)


I understand that some 4x4 clubs refuse participants on club drives if they do not have acceptable ("rated") recovery points fitted. Thats a good example of the 4x4 community walking the walk and trying to get the education out there.

No need to walk the walk if you can drive so well that you'll never get stuck so bad. Really?

And what about that winch so many have on their vehicles? Most of the very good drivers I have heard, all say that the only time they ever use their winch is to recover others. Use it so rarely. So why have that winch fitted then - send it the way of the strong recovery points which you will also never need fitted.... Hmmmm?

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Originally Posted by Eevo

we seem to be agreeing a lot.

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A pleasant thought.