Why Don't People Wear Seatbelts?

[Am_I_There_Yet]

getting ready to be flammed lol, I don't wear a seat belt, I have many many many reasons for not wearing one, but the main one is that I hate the goverement telling me what to do, in my private vehicle

I suppose you don't carry auto insurance then, either?

 

[profdsny]

And more power to you for having the naddes to stand up and tell the truth~I did and they THINK they gave me crap...but they only gave me a reality shock of why I dislike "those kind of people"!

Happy Holiday!

Excuse me? "Those kind of people"? If we were 'those kind of people" maybe we wouldn't care if you died. But, since you put it that way........

 

[meandtheguys2]

Honestly,my first thoughts were 'oh grow up!'
Who cares what the gov. tells you what to do,why would you rebel against the government for no reason and take a huge risk when not wearing a seatbelt?
HOWEVER,if someone could kindly give a valid reason for rebelling against the government,my thoughts might change.
Please no flames.

It is nice to see a young person with some common sense! Good for you!

 

[PrincessTiff]

Colour me stupid,but I don't understand this point of view?
Then again,I'm only 14 and don't keep up with the government and it's news.
Anybody from this crowd care to explain?


Honestly,my first thoughts were 'oh grow up!'
Who cares what the gov. tells you what to do,why would you rebel against the government for no reason and take a huge risk when not wearing a seatbelt?
HOWEVER,if someone could kindly give a valid reason for rebelling against the government,my thoughts might change.
Please no flames.

Just wanted to say that you have more common sense then some of the adults on this thread.

That's okay. Just when you are in a crash and thrown out of the car, don't ask the "government" fire, emts, and police to come to your assistance. Flag down a car or call a friend to take you to a non-public (government funded) hospital, if you can scrape yourself off the (government paid for) pavement

 

[happygirl]

I refuse to explain myself to you people, there was a ?? asked I answered, If you don't like my answer that is fine, but atleast have the common curistysp?? to respect my answer move on

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

I refuse to explain myself to you people, there was a ?? asked I answered, If you don't like my answer that is fine, but atleast have the common curistysp?? to respect my answer move on

 

[tar heel]

I guess we have some resistance to government schools, too, given some of the creative spelling on this thread.

 

[bord1niowa]

I understand the concern of the government telling you what you can and can't do. After all the government has made laws like a woman can "choose" to have a baby, a 14 year old girl can "Choose" the same thing without the knowledge of the parents, in other words the parents are not required to be told of it, and this same 14 year old girl who takes a Midol at school because of menstrual cramps is kicked out of school until she goes into a drug rehab program. Another interesting government guideline is when they set standards that contradict each other in getting help with housing. You must make more than X amount but if you make more than 2000 less than that then you don't qualify either...hmmmm. Yes, these are all laws that seem to make sense to me. I also know of an accident where the child was not restrained and was ejected from the car and was fine, but the mother who was wearing a seatbelt was held in just long enough until it broke and decapitated her. Seatbelts are not the end all to beat all. Yes I do wear mine because it is the law here and they actually look into the cars as you drive by and if they don't see the belt, they go after you and ticket you. Aren't there bigger fish to catch in the sea of crime?

 

[profdsny]

I guess we have some resistance to government schools, too, given some of the creative spelling on this thread.

 

[profdsny]

Safety Belt Statistics

* One out of every five drivers will be involved in a traffic crash this year.

* Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among people age 44 and younger and the number one cause of head and spinal cord injury.

* Approximately 35,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year. About 50 percent (17,000) of these people could be saved if they wore their safety belts.

* More than 90 percent of all motorists believe safety belts are good idea, but less than 14 percent actually use them.

* For every one percent increase in safety belt use, 172 lives and close to $100 million in annual injury and death costs could be saved.

* Safety belts when used properly reduce the number of serious traffic injuries by 50 percent and fatalities by 60-70 percent.

* For maximum protection safety belts should be fastened before traveling any distance or speed. Seventy-five percent of crash deaths and injuries occur within 25 miles of home. More than half of all injury-producing motor vehicle crashes involve low speeds under 40 m.p.h.

[B] * Motorists are 25 times are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when they are "thrown clear" than when remain inside their vehicle.
[/B]
* In a 30 m.p.h. collision an unbelted 160 lb. Person can strike another passenger, crash through a windshield and/or slam into the vehicle's interior with a 4,800 lb. force.

* Motorists can increase safety belt usage by example and verbal reminders. Nine out of 10 people buckle up when asked.

* Safety belt use is one of the best defenses against the unpredictable actions of the drunk driver.

* Today over 25 countries around the world have some type of mandatory safety belt law. Results of these laws were measured; usage rate went from 20-25 percent before passage to 60-90 percent after passage.

* A common cause of death and injury to children in motor vehicles is being crushed by adults who are not wearing safety belts. On out of four serious injuries to passengers is caused by occupants being thrown into each other.

* About 80 percent of all injuries to children in car crashes are injuries to the head, causing brain damage, permanent disfigurement, epilepsy or death.

* Of every 100 children who die in motor vehicle crashes at least 80 would survive if they were properly secured in an approved child safety seat or safety belts.

* Three out of four families with child safety seats fail to use them correctly. Adults need to follow manufacturer's instructions and secure seats properly before every trip.

* An estimated 80 percent of American children area immunized against contagious diseases, but less than 10 percent are properly restrained when riding in a motor vehicle.

From James Madison University in Virginia. http://www.jmu.edu/safetyplan/vehicle/generaldriver/safetybelt.shtml

 

[perdidobay]

That is all good and well, but I think that I will quote a former instructor that I had many years ago, when talking about people doing very silly things that put their lives in danger:

"People, Never, ever underestimate the power of human stupidity, nor their ability for self justification, right up to the point of death

There's been plenty of examples of that on this thread!

 

[angel_bright05]

Please don't assume that I was talking about you, because I wasn't!

This is OT but DUDE!! how about toning down the signature That's probably giving someone with Epilepsy seizures right now...just saying...
At least you're in the festive mood

 

[ducklite]

Two words for some of the posts on this thread...

"Darwin Awards"

BTW--has everyone signed an organ donor card?

 

[profdsny]

Yeah, good reason....OR:

http://despair.com/mis24x30prin.html

Aside from my eyes hurting, I like the link. Sort of like the saying, "No person is worthless, they can always be used as a bad example."

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Aside from my eyes hurting, I like the link. Sort of like the saying, "No person is worthless, they can always be used as a bad example."

I discovered them a number of years ago, they make items that we decorate the office with, you really have to look at them and read. They really crack up everyone who sees them, especially if you have seen some offices that have the "teamwork" posters and other encourgement plastered around an office. They fit well with my co-workers.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Since you've now left this thread, and now come back twice, why don't you try sticking around and debating the topic in adult manner, instead of throwing out childish, "sticks and stones" playground comebacks, and backing up the one person who agrees with you?

 

[MushyMushy]

see, now watch...they attacked me for like days....because of this. But hey,
I think they are funny!

ok~good luck with this one! I only answered here for your sake. I will not be back!!


P.S..your best bet, just ignore them! let them judge amongst themselves!

You seriously sound like a petulant child.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I don't wear my seatbelt because I don't feel like wearing it. Don't like things on me like that.

I can't stand wearing wristbands, either. Drives me nuts.

 

[PatsGirl]

Lots of name-slinging here:

Count me in as an "organ donor" here, also

Count me in as a "warning to what happens to others"

But also count me in as someone who doesn't want the government to tell me what to do with my body... seatbelt, abortion, or otherwise... and please try to give me examples of how this affects anyone else??? A few pages back someone mentioned the cost of medical after a serious injury.

Let's consider that: Yes, it is a possibility that I may get in a car accident and I may die after considerable medical expense that may or may not be due to my wearing a seatbelt or not. I pay my insurance -- it's just that -- insurance!! I pay huge premiums in the event that I may need medical help. Like many of you who drink and drive, smoke, take other risks maybe 4-wheeling or skydividing or mountain climbing or scuba diving, all RISKS!!! Most of you carry insurance that will cover you as I do... please don't flame unless you can honestly say you NEVER take risks that you expect insurance to pay for....

What I figure most of my insurance premiums are paying for is NOT people getting in accidents without seatbelts but people who are hospitalized because of COPD, heart failure, obesity, etc. -- most of those medical conditions can be lowered considerably if not totally but life changes so... don't talk to me about insurance premiums please... I'm a single parent who pays nearly 25% of her income to make sure that my family and I have health insurance and then you can add homeowners insurance at 10% of my yearly income (yeah, like my house is burning down anytime soon...) and car insurance for another 5% of my income (no accident in 32 years...) and talk to me about insurance premiums!!! Let's add this up: nearly 40% of my TAKE-HOME income is spent on MANDATORY insurance. Trust me, if it wasn't mandatory, its just another risk I'd take... something to be said about being insurance poor, don't you think?

 

[imabrat]

But also count me in as someone who doesn't want the government to tell me what to do with my body... seatbelt, abortion, or otherwise... and please try to give me examples of how this affects anyone else??? A few pages back someone mentioned the cost of medical after a serious injury.

May I ask why?
You certainly don't have to explain yourself to me,and I hope you don't find me rude for asking why.
But is it really worth it to put your life at risk each and every time you get into a car,which is probably everyday?
Yes I know we put ourselves in danger everyday,but when you refuse to do something just to show the government "who's boss"?
Sounds kind of petty to me,but hey,I'm only 14,what do 14 year olds know anyway?