Why Don't People Wear Seatbelts?

[NancyK]

If you don't want to wear one, fine, good luck with being thrown or have the car roll over on you. Sometimes I sit at the stoplight and watch how many people who don't. But you can only get a ticket if the police pull you over for another violation.

Just out of curiousity how many have "seat belt laws"?

Here in Ontario, we've had seat belt laws for as long as I can remember (30 years?) And here you CAN get pulled over strictly for a seat belt violation. No other offense is necessary to receive a ticket. And you get charged for allowing your kids to be unrestrained as well.

 

[Doe]

Years ago during company safety training we had a police officer come in and talk to us. The thing that always remained with me was a case he described where the husbands were in the front of a car buckled in. The wives in the back seat were not buckled. You guessed it, there was a car accident and the women slammed into their husbands and everyone was killed. Four totally unnecessary deaths. It's simple physics. Any loose object in the car has the ability to be lethal.
My father-in-law rarely wears his seat belt, but he always does in our car. Many years ago, I refused to drive with him or allow him to be a passenger in our car without being belted in. When he gave me the "it's my right not to wear a seatbelt" line, I told him it was MY right to not have his body slam into mine or the children's. He never argued about it with us again. So - for those of you who don't wear seatbelts, I would ask that you at least do so when you have passengers in the car. I think you should buckle up anyway - why take the chance of leaving your loved ones grieving unnecessarily.

And as a side note - I've never seen Life Hammer in Canada. Is it available in the U.S. Walmarts or does it have to be ordered from somewhere? Thanks.

My thoughts exactly! I was hoping someone would point this out! This is why anyone who rides in our cars buckles up.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I
Just out of curiousity how many have "seat belt laws"?

We do here in Texas. The ads for it say, "Click It Or Ticket"

Just a little side note:

My husband once made an accident where a guy hit a car full of young girls going down the freeway. He was unrestrained. He ended up going through his front windshield and then through their back windshield, and stopped when he was wedged between the two girls in the backseat - very much dead.

He still has the letter that one of the very traumatized girls wrote to him.

Just a thought for those that are uncomfortable wearing them. I bet that guy would give all sorts of comfort up to redo that night.

One other thing - there are currently two threads on the DIS right now, with a bunch of other DISers participating with their own stories - most recently - about auto accidents. Mine is one of them. Dodukes is the other. That DISer is lucky to be alive. Yeah, she has seat belt and air bag burns, but she's here to post about it.

 

[Nancyg56]

In the late 70's my mother survived an accident because she did not have her seatbelt on. Something to do with the engine being pushed into the seat. It took me years to get her in the habit of wearing hers, and now she does, but for a long time she wouldn't because of the knowledge that if she had been wearing one that day, she'd be dead.

I am a paraplegic due to a car accident. I wasn't wearing a seatbelt either. They told me if I was, the accident most likely would have killed me.

Still, I always wear a seatbelt now.

My DH drives for a living and refuses to wear one for these reasons. The only time he will is if my DGD is with us, he knows that she needs to see him wear it.

I know that I don't agree and I always wear mine. I pray that nothing happens to him, my sister was a flight RT on a medical helicopter and could not convince him that the statistics are not in his favor if there is an accident. His fears are real and they are also based on real life experience, so I respect his decision.

 

[yasmina]

Here's another thought. Conspiracy theories aside, the crash that killed Princess Diana, who was the only one who survived? Her bodyguard - the only one wearing a seatbelt.

 

[safetymom]

That used to be my career educating people about using car seats and seat belts. I can't tell you the number of excuses I got from people why they wouldn't use them.

We are all survivors of bad accidents here at my house. Even my kids when they were small would talk to other kids at events trying to get them to wear their seat belts.

In my book there is no excuse for not wearing one.

 

[Buckalew11]

I had no idea so many people did not wear their seatbelts!

DH is a FF/paramedic. We always wear seatbelts.

Last week 2 young mean were killed on our small college's campus. 3 in the truck, no seatbelts, some alcohol involved and speed. 25yo men with their whole lives in front of them. So tragic. I have no idea if seatbelts would have mattered in their case. The third boy is still fighting.

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

No offense, but if you have a panic attack just by putting on a seatbelt, how do you react to other stresses while driving? Heavy traffic? People cutting you off? Perhaps you should consider not driving, for the safety of others? YES/NO?

oh I am fine dear..no need to care If I wear a turtle neck, samething. It has nothing to do with driving, there ARE other types of panic ya know and for the record I have been driving 30 years with a PERFECT driving record, I have been hit once IN my car, the car itself 3 times parked. SO I think I am just fine!

I also believe it is MY choice, just as is abortion or the right to carry a gun! It really is no ones business! OH...and for the record, I prefer NOT to wear a Helment when I ride my motorcycle, again......MY CHOICE!

 

[mylilnikita]

I was in an accident without a seat belt when I first got married, but it went like this: Dh at the time, and another couple and I went to the mountains to see the leaves change and before it got took cold for a picnic. YOu know how they have pull over spots? well, we parked at a couple and the last one, the van was turned off, and we were about to get out of the van and heard brakes squeling. There was a car heading for us, and old guy with a crown victoria, we didn't have enough time to get out or fasten up the guy tried to start the van to go, but couldn't get the key in in time. I got on the floor hoping to take less impact and in the middle because it was going to hit on my side.
The car hit the van and pushed it into the barrier wall. Both vehicles were totaled and I was knocked out and ended up with a concusion because there was part of the jack the came flyiing underneath the couch in the back (this was a real van not a minivan). But we were lucky that was all. we could have gone over the side had the wall not been there.
So up come fire, ambulance and police up a mountain. And it was like a 15 mph at the curve and he was speeding tried to slam brakes but did't work.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I also believe it is MY choice, just as is abortion or the right to carry a gun! It really is no ones business! OH...and for the record, I prefer NOT to wear a Helment when I ride my motorcycle, again......MY CHOICE!

Future "Darwin Award" quote.

 

[profdsny]

oh I am fine dear..no need to care If I wear a turtle neck, samething. It has nothing to do with driving, there ARE other types of panic ya know and for the record I have been driving 30 years with a PERFECT driving record, I have been hit once IN my car, the car itself 3 times parked. SO I think I am just fine!

I also believe it is MY choice, just as is abortion or the right to carry a gun! It really is no ones business! OH...and for the record, I prefer NOT to wear a Helment when I ride my motorcycle, again......MY CHOICE!

What's your blood type? I hope you keep it shown so that you can be harvested for someone who needs the organs.

And in Illinois that can ticket you just for that also.

 

[safetymom]

It is everyones business when someone doesn't wear a seat belt and is involved in an accident.

If you have an accident and you are injured because you weren't wearing a seat belt are you going to pay all the costs?

 

[jekajekalynn]

It is everyones business when someone doesn't wear a seat belt and is involved in an accident.

If you have an accident and you are injured because you weren't wearing a seat belt are you going to pay all the costs?

Quoted for truth.

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

anyone here SMOKE or drink here? I am guessing yes...well, guess what? that brings up the cost of insurance also, and I can bet my bottom dollar most of you have had a beer and got behind the wheel, again I can bet my bottom dollar on it. So who are you all to tell ME what to do? NO ONE! So STOP your smoking, because it affects my insurance rates, and that ONE beer you just had? or that glass of wine? YOU could be the next cause.....

so move on with YOUR lives and leave me and My life out of... YOUR smoking drinking business PLEASE! NOT one of you is any better then me.....
and hey...at least I am being HONEST! your not!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Future "Darwin Award" quote.

that reminded me of this:

http://www.snopes.com/autos/accident/seatbelt.asp

And driving for 30 years without an accident just means your are that much closer to the next!

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

that reminded me of this:

http://www.snopes.com/autos/accident/seatbelt.asp

And driving for 30 years without an accident just means your are that much closer to the next!

the next what?? I never have BEEN in an accident, but I see here that most of you have!!! hum, that makes ME a better driver then you!

 

[lil mermaid]

I am always surprised to hear how many people don't wear seatbelts, or keep their children properly restrained in a carseat/booster, etc.

It is everyones business when someone doesn't wear a seat belt and is involved in an accident.

If you have an accident and you are injured because you weren't wearing a seat belt are you going to pay all the costs?

Only out of curiosity - if you are involved in an accident and were not wearing a seatbelt in a state where it is required, does your auto insurance still pay up? Can they drop you??

 

[jekajekalynn]

Some people REALLY need to visit a TBI hospital sometime and interview ppl who can actually talk after something like that and hear what the injured ppl think of seatbelts now....

 

[angel_bright05]

anyone here SMOKE or drink here? I am guessing yes...well, guess what? that brings up the cost of insurance also, and I can bet my bottom dollar most of you have had a beer and got behind the wheel, again I can bet my bottom dollar on it. So who are you all to tell ME what to do? NO ONE! So STOP your smoking, because it affects my insurance rates, and that ONE beer you just had? or that glass of wine? YOU could be the next cause.....

so move on with YOUR lives and leave me and My life out of... YOUR smoking drinking business PLEASE! NOT one of you is any better then me.....
and hey...at least I am being HONEST! your not!

Ok I'll be honest with you. I don't drink therefore I am not one of those people who have gotten behind the wheel after a beer. I also don't smoke, never have and never will.

OT: IMO if you aren't wearing a seatbelt you should be given more than just a fine. What happens if you are in a car accident, no seatbelt and your body goes through the windshield into another person (in another car or on the street) and they die from the impact of your body?

By not wearing a seatbelt you are putting other people's lives at risk and should not even have a liscense.

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

Some people REALLY need to visit a TBI hospital sometime and interview ppl who can actually talk after something like that what they think of seatbelts now....

OMG...honey if you ONLY knew! been there, done that more then you I am so sure! I am so done with what you people think ,you all have no clue. I leave you all to have your "Wine" and your ONE Beer and get behind that wheel, are YOU gonna pay? I sure hell not gonna pay for you!