To all those non-seat belt wearers

[Jennyfyar]

Inspired by jfulcer's recent accident.

This is a question to those who do not wear a seat belt, either while driving or riding anywhere in the car. Why?

 

[Manda1219]

Originally posted by Jennyfyar
Inspired by jfulcer's recent accident.

This is a question to those who do not wear a seat belt, either while driving or riding anywhere in the car. Why?

My boyfriend doesn't wear one while backing up because he says it's uncomfortable and he doesn't NEED one then. He puts it on when he goes forward. I have to remind him by asking "Are you immune to other drivers while going backwards? If so...maybe you should ALWAYS go in reverse!"

 

[FroggyinArk]

i must admit that prior to my accident it was a matter of comfort, if the belt didnt sit right or was uncomfortable( ie the ones in my toyota tacoma p/u ) i wouldnt wear them, When the belt in my suburban wasnt working that day i wasnt that worried, was no big deal at the time i'ld foix it later, even though that wasa comfortable seat belt, My old ford truck i had before the suburban was one that had only lap belts they were ok, not as good but ok, now it doesnt matter what vehicle, whos driving, where we going or how far,, even if its across a parking lot i buckle up. Any one who has ever experienced the need for a seat belt and if you needed it you know it..lol.. knows why i waer em every where, anyone wants the link to my story can pm me for the link.

 

[pogopossum]

well i know that anecdotal evidence is hardly scientific and can be used to back up both sides of any argument, but here's my take from personal experience. in 2000 i was involved in a rollover accident in my s-10 pickup. complete 360 degree roll. i wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and only received minor cuts in arm requiring 17 stitches in four places. paramedics said that it was up to me whether or not to get the stitches as they were really only for cosmetic reasons in my case. so i got really lucky. i really don't know how i feel about wearing seatbelts or not after this. i also remember a chrysler commercial from a few years back just after they started putting airbags in their cars which showed a mangled car and the two people that were in the accident talking about how they weren't wearing seat belts but the air bags saved their lives.

recently i have begun to wear my seat belt most all of the time, but only because texas has a click it or ticket campaign with no tolerance and i got a ticket that cost $125. i think that it is very hypocritical to have seatbelt laws and allow motorcyclists to ride with out helmets, but it is the law and i don't need to add to the public coffers by paying traffic fines.

i also think that whether adults wear seatbelts in car or helmets on motorcycles or bicycles should be left up to the individual. government should not be legislating our ability to make such decisions for ourselves.

 

[newholiday]

Since a young driver rear ended me (and 2yr DS in carseat in back) in 1994 and totaled my car Ive been wearing my seat belt whenever in a car.

 

[Robmom]

I sometimes forget to wear seatbelts. I guess because when I was growing up, no one wore them and I guess I got used to that. But, I always wear mine when I'm in someone else's car because I wouldn't want them to get a ticket because of me. But I do try to make an effort to wear them. I was in a friend's car yesterday and it had the automatic seatbelts and they were quite comfortable. I want to look for that when I get a new car.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

I cannot ride in a car without a seatbelt but until my kids were born I never wore one. I always wear one now without fail....and my kids would not let me if I wanted to.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I strongly disagree that it is a personal choice to wear a seat belt. If you are in an accident and thrown from your car because you are not wearing a seatbelt, your car is now an unmanned missle without even the possibility of any control about it. At least if you are still in the car there is a chance that you can prevent it from hitting and killing someone else.

 

[hyzdufan]

I wear it on long trips, or whenever I'll be on the highway for any period of time. It's my right to wear, or not wear a seatbelt. My life is mine, and I should be free to choose what I want to do with it. Local government, police included, should not have the right to make me wear a seatbelt.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

BE WARNED TO ALL WHO DRIVE IN FLORIDA!!

If you do NOT wear a seatbelt, you WILL get a ticket! I'm not sure what it's like in most states, but Florida now has a "Click it or ticket!" motto.

I always wear my belt, no matter what. All it takes is that split second.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is difficult to live after an ejection, I always wear mine, have sine '66. I wish the police enforced the current laws more strictly. Also, on those automatics, most often, no always, but most often they are only the shoulder belt part and not the waist part. That can lead to losing your head in an accident. If that kind, always be sure to do the lap part too.

 

[ZachnElli]

I always wear my seatbelt. But I use to work for someone who was very adamantly against wearing seatbelts. His reasoning was if you get into an accident and there is a fire, you couldn't get out fast enough. Or if you went off the roadway into water (ex. lake, river, etc). He came across as though being trapped in a car that was on fire was his worst fear. And yes, a coworker talked poor little me into bringing the subject up (he was VERY adamant about not wearing it).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Get a little glass in your face from hitting the windshield, taking a trip to the hospital in the ambulance (and not knowing you even went), bruises, cuts, blood clots, amputations, missing body parts etc. and you will decide it's not such a bad thing to wear a seat belt.

And then there is always the permanent vegetables who got more than glass in the face. Or the bodies in the coffin. But it's your right to be a vegetable, I guess.

It's not that bad of a thing compared to what could happen to you. We always wear ours, make all the people riding with us wear theirs. Our son has worn a seat belt or child restraint since his first trip in a car. Never had a problem with it because it is our rule.

 

[Robinrs]

I started driving when I was 31 so I always wore on. 3 weeks after getting my first car a man "high" on heart medicine rammed into the back of my stopped car and totalled my Toyota Cressida. I suffered minor injuries BECAUSE of my seat belt. Several physical therapists told me that I would've been thrown through the windshield if it was not on. One told me about a hospital that was full of people with head injuries from the very same accident I had....

Anyone who does not wear one may not care about his own life, but someone else's, your loved ones, will have to suffer while you recover or die.

To me that is the utmost in selfishness.

And, oh yes, it's is against the law in Georgia, too.The theme is "Click It or Ticket" but it should say "Click It or Kick It"... the bucket that is!

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I've always worn mine, since DD was baby. For those who say it should be their choice to wear a seat belt, I agree that if thrown that leaves an unattended missile. But it also leaves the government responsible for your care if you become handicapped for life. Also, Dan is correct about buckling up the lap belt also, when the shoulder belt is automatic; that also causes liver damage. The odds are with you when you wear a seatbelt, you can't really count on being lucky enough to survive twice without!
JMHO

 

[binny]

I walked away from what would have been a deadly accident because of my seatbelt! The paramedics told me anywhere I had a scratch on me I could count on losing that part of my body if I hadnt been wearing my seatbelt. That would have included my arm, my left leg and oh yeah, my HEAD as I have a scar down my neck to prove it.

I ALWAYS wear mine!!

I just dont understand the " Its my right" arguement. Isnt it your families right to have you around as long as possible? Wouldnt you do whatever you could to make that happen?

 

[DisneyVillain]

If you are in an accident and thrown from your car because you are not wearing a seatbelt, your car is now an unmanned missle without even the possibility of any control about it.

If you are thrown from the car, it was already WAY out of control. There is no chance to recover a vehicle that is out of control enough to eject the driver.

While it seems logical that an unbelted driver would be more likely to lose control, I have never seen any evidence to that effect. It may be that by the time a seatbelt can make a difference, the car is already unrecoverable. I am sure that if a study comes out that shows that seatbelts improve the chance of maintaining control, it will get a lot of press coverage. Until such evidence is presented, the control argument is specious.

My personal belief is that government should protect us from each other, but not from ourselves.

And nobody rides in my car without a seatbelt.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I do wear my seatbelt all the time now, HOWEVER....

When I turned 16 and got my license I walked away from an accident for NOT WEARING my seatbelt. I was the driver in a small sport like car. An SUV did not stop at a stop sign and came right through my drivers door. The police said if I had been wearing a seatbelt I would have been dead. So I disagree with the previous post...I was glad I had some glass in my face and went for a ride in an ambulance. I was ALIVE!!!

I work for an insurance company and have seen my fill of photos of deceased people from car accidents.

I feel it should be up to the person whether or not they want to wear them as I have seen the pro's to both sides.

 

[Trish Bessette]

One other thing.....

I was involved in another accident back in 1991. My husband and I were stopped to make a left hand turn. Truck behind us did not stop and ran into the rear end of us. Totaling my car.

Husband did not have a seatbelt on....no injuries.

I did have one on.....whiplash and back injuries. Resulted in 4 years of therapy and I'm still not the same.

...you just never know.

 

[stinkerbelle]

it's like flipping a coin - you really can't predict what will happen.

I've worn a seatbelt ever since I started driving - my first car - a toyota - had those automatic shoulder restraints, force of habit made me put on the lap belt.

i feel naked without my seatbelt - even if i'm pulling into the driveway, getting out of the car to get the mail, I put my seatbelt on for the drive from the mailbox to the garage!

I just pray to god that regardles of the decisions adults are making, that their children are buckled in!

nothing makes me madder then seeing a toddler walking around a backseat/jumping around when a car is in motion

ETA
Also - in the state of Connecticut - we also have "Click-it or Ticket!" And they nabbed MANY people for this on memorial day weekends - so just be aware of that if you are passing through the state