Seatbelts

[Paschale]

I always wear mine too, and feel naked when if I ever realize I've forgotten.  I think a lot of people wear them most of the time, but for that trip up to the corner market, they figure there's no need.  I read a statistic somewhere that the vast majority of accidents occur within a five mile radius of your home.  It's in those short trips that you're most statistically likely to get into a fender bender, so it's just as vital then to wear 'em.  As to the laws requiring us to do it, I don't worry about it, cuz I always wear 'em.   

[fstedy]

Don't make a move without it. Accidents always happen when you least expect it.

[iain]

No click no drive here, been in enough and seen enough to go naked, boys are worse than me, they dont let you move less everybody is ready, regardless of who's car it is



 iain

[Gilman]

Still training Miss Kathy,
I'll stop the truck in the middle of the road to make my point with her.  Physics is physics can't argue with the laws of nature.  She's getting a lot better about the seat belt.

The funny thing is me backing up the trailer aroud the block to the shop.  I still feel unfonfortable about hopping in with ear plugs (not hearing a thing) but backing up one block without the seatbelt on.

I have a friend that is adament about not wearing a seatbelt, good luck finding one when you ride with him.   I find that I plan "meatings" with him to make sure I have to drive my own vehicle.  I'll go as far as hauling my trailer if need be.

The only wreck I was involed in was a rear-ender.  I sure wish I had a rear end type seat belt (the seat gave way and crumpled my back mid way) Wear your DanG seatbelts.

[Fraxinus]

Having responded to numerous Vehicl Accidents I can tell you, if you dont wear your seatbelt your nuts.  I have seen more "arond town" car accidents with MAJOR injuries than you can imagine. 

The other side that most may not be aware of is Insurance.  MOST insurance companies WILL NOT cover you if yoru in an accident and did not have your seatbelt on.  They may fix the car but your medical stuff may be left in your lap. 

Some have it written that way in the policy coverage, which few people read, or they use the "Law Violation" clause found in most policies, meaning if your injured because you did not comply with the law they are not obligated to pay. 

Dont be stupid!  Come home to your family.  Click-it! 

Sometimes I buy gas at a convenience store that is about 0.3 miles from where I work.  I put my seat belt on even to go that little distance.  A few years ago, a woman was killed in an accident right in front of that store.

[Cedarman]

In 1969 I worked for a company where seat belt use was mandatory.
We drove lots of miles under all conditions. Had a rollover in a pickup truck. My coworker and I walked away with out a scratch.  Always believe in them.

My 17 year old son didn't wear his seatbelt on the way to school  a couple months ago. Cost him $1000.00 plus the cost of the ticket. Our insurance program has a deal that if you(new drivers) drive for 3 years without a ticket and chargeable accident, then you get a $1000 bond. I was super ticked twice at him.  Once for being without the belt, and once for losing an easy $1000.00. (My daughter is 1/2 way through the 3 years and I keep reminding them it is safety and money.)  Getting the ticket because of not wearing it once in a 100 times could be the same as having a wreck during that 1 in 100 times.

I agree with Frank that it irks me that the law says do it.  I like the idea of the insurance company with the carrot better.

Our skid steer will not let you start it without your seat belt being buckled. I will not let anyone override the switch. Too much load, do a header, flop out and it won't be pretty.

[Larry]

Every time seatbelt user also...even on the tractor with ROPS.

The laws that require seatbelt usage irritate me to, as it seems like a blow to personal freedom...but than I think it is awful hard for the other driver to keep their vehicle under control if they have been ejected.  Guess I won’t protest to much.

[musher]

I agree with Frank that it irks me that the law says do it.  I like the idea of the insurance company with the carrot better.

Except for the fact that the insurance company relies on the law (and law enforcement) in order to make their carrot possible.

[OneWithWood]

Seat belt goes on before the key gets turned.  I have belts in all my vehicles and equipment.  I just don't feel right without it on.

[Patty]

We always have our belts on when riding. I remember when our oldest boy was little and didn't want to buckle up. I was on a side street and when he wasn't paying attention, I slammed on the brakes. He smacked his head on the dash and got all mad at me. I just said, "now you know why I insist on seatbelts in the car"....he always buckeled up after that. I think it was a good way to drive in my point to him.

[sparks]

Hardly ever. I have a hard time with government using the "it saves lives" statement. More lives are saved by better cars and airbags been on the road now. It's a revenue law. Generates money for the state. I've had 13 tickets in 2 years @ 35.00 a pop. Doesn't count as points so I'm not worried about it.
The only person I hurt, not wearing seatbelts, is ME.
If they want to save lives sit outside taverns and sports arenas and catch the DUI's. That kills more people and most of those killed are wearing seat belts.
Do I make passengers wear seatbelts? Yes. Now if I wreck I hurt others.

Where did this soapbox come from that I found myself standing on?   

[Buzz-sawyer]

Patty...
Sure you aint got some of the Irish in ya?

[Ernie]

We always belt up before starting the vehicle. No exceptions.

Jan had an accident a couple of years ago and wrote off the car.
 She was lucky, only a broken sternum from the belt not a broken head from the windscreen or a cheshed chest from the steering wheel.

We always assume that everyone on the road is a complete idiot and have avoided a lot of problems this way.

[etat]

That youngest boy of mine, who by the way is still grounded with no end in sight at this time, has had 'three' wrecks in the last two years.   Not counting the one time that 'wasn't' his fault, two of them were, and were major.  Once he flipped a pathfinder when he got off the pavement and tried to jerk it back up in the road.  Over it went, scooting down the road flipping sideways and spinning, crossed a ditch and flipped back again, and landed back on it's feet.  Busted ALL the windows out, besides totaling it out.  He walked away without a scratch, undoubtedly due to having his seat belt fastened.

Recently he fell asleep, left the road, and centered a power pole.  About cut it in two, the only thing still holding the pole up was the wires.  Again, totaled out the car.  Walked away, with only one little scratch on his noggin.

I figure if he hadn't a had a seat belt fastened we'd probably have him buried somewhere by now.

As I said, he's STILL grounded and only allowed to drive every once in a while, supervised by ME.  

[ARKANSAWYER]

   I do not like the seat belt law.  I think any one under the age of 18 should have to wear a belt and all small childern should be in a car seat fastened to the seat belt.  If you are over the age of 18 you should have the right to hurt yourself if you wish.   We got rid of the motorcycle helmet law here.  I think all riders over the age of 18 should have the right to deciede if they wish to bust their gourd.  Life jackets are another law that gets me.  Small kids should have to wear one but any one over the age of 18 should have the right to choose weither or not they float.   Natural selection is a good thing.   As for me and mine we buckle, strap and float because it is the right thing to do and not because it is the law.  Laws are good to protect those who do not know better to choose but at some time we have to let people make their own choices.   You get into my truck and do not wish to wear your belt that is fine with me.  I have provided you with one and afforded you with a good example.   The choice is yours.   I do not impose my good sense on you if'n you think you know better.   Hot coffee is hot and seatbelts save lives and life jackets float when you do not.   People have to have the right to live or die as they see fit.  It is not right for me to infringe on their personal right to be dumb.  Just my view from the soapbox.

[katie-did]

We always have our belts on when riding. I remember when our oldest boy was little and didn't want to buckle up. I was on a side street and when he wasn't paying attention, I slammed on the brakes. He smacked his head on the dash and got all mad at me. I just said, "now you know why I insist on seatbelts in the car"....he always buckeled up after that. I think it was a good way to drive in my point to him.

Seatbelts are an ALWAYS in my truck.
I have did this to both my kids several times. They may have the belt on but they think that it is okay to lay to the side or be leaning forward with it streched to the max.  Hit the brakes and they olny hit the back of the seat but it did not stick till dad had a bad wreck and the seatblet and airbag saved him. (He T'ed a F-250 with a little Dodge Dakota at 55. Totaled both) Now they listen.
Hate some of the laws too. Indiana past a law that anyone under the age of 8 has to be in a safely seat. My kids were both big enough at that age to fit a seat belt.  Now they are trying to make trucks wear them all because SUV's & vans can get truck plates. I think that they sure make it so that SVU' & mini van can not get truck plates not make everyone wear seltbelts

[OLD_ JD]

  I still do not like the fact of being forced by statutes, aministrative decisions and board actions.

here in Quebec whit are general medical care systeme,they clain the fact then we all paying if u get injure in road accident ...it make sence in a way

[beenthere]

I always wear mine, and 'the law' is but one incentive. The big reason was a 'training session in defensive driving that had a clip on "A place to Live", based on extensive research into wrecked cars that seemed to always have that 'place' to live, if you have a seatbelt on to keep you in that place. That did it for me.

Another idea that I think should work in lieu of a seatbelt law was learned by me several years ago when I was in the State of Maine. At that time (and I don't now what happened to this 'policy' I was told about), I learned from two state workers when we loaded up to go to lunch, that one said "I am buckling up my $100,000 seat belt". I inquired what that was about, and was told the State of Maine would pay to the family, $100,000 if one was killed wearing a seatbelt. I thought that was an ingenious idea, but I have not heard since if this is still a policy, or if it ever really was. Maybe just for State employees.   Anyone know?

This past winter, my wife and I went West and drove our SUV about 8,500 miles in 7 weeks, going through nearly every state west of the Mississippi, except Colorado, Nebraska and North Dakota. While driving some off-road 'roads' in Eastern Arizona, we hit a culvert, or log, or something in the 'trail' that pitched the SUV up when the front wheels hit, and again when the back wheels hit at about 45-50 mph. Everything in the car went to the ceiling (headliner) and slammed back down, breaking bottles and things, including my dear wife, as the seatbelt didn't hold her in the seat. The belt was still fastened when the car was stopped.
She hit the headliner hard, and broke the T-12 vertebrae (compression failure) in her back. After getting her quickly to a hospital 20 miles away, then later that night to Scottsdale, AZ for scheduled back surgery the next morning, we learned a full body back brace was possible, in lieu of surgery but had to be in it 24/7 for three months. She did very well in the brace given the circumstances, and now has a healed vertebrae, and is undergoing PT to get her back muscles back in shape. We were fortunate, but it ended a fantastic trip in a abrupt way.  Still do not know why the seatbelt didn't hold her in place. GM has the information now, and I'm interested in what they will do with it.  We are a bit leary of how the seatbelts will hold if in another accident, although they pass inspection when the GM dealer tests them.  We will continue to wear them, regardless. 

[ScottAR]

It's so second nature now I put the belt on to move the truck from the garage to the driveway....   

I wear one on the forklift at my job.  The cage will crush me unless I'm strapped down.  I'm the only one in the whole 600,000 sq ft. building though...   

[gary]

I wear mine all the time . We taught our kids to wear them when they were young now they put them on as soon as they get in a car . My 19year old son  lost control of his car on a wet road . Went up an embankment ,clipped a tree with the passanger fender then flipped  his car on to the roof. This was the fifth accicent on this road in two hours.  The roof of his dar was only about a foot from the dashboard on the drivers side and smashed clear down to the dash on the passenger side . The ONLY injury he got was scraped knees when he UNBUCKLED his seatbelt and fell onto the roof of the car.
Wear your seatbelt and come home to the people that love you