TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

i would like to see anyone survive a 70-0mph in .5 of a sec whos not wearing a seatbelt.....
Modern cars are designed with the seatbelt/airbag combination in mind along with crumple zones to give the best protection, if you dont wear a seatbelt you could (apart from killing yourself) also kill someone else as you fly out of the windscreen.
If you set your seat/headrest up properly then your chances of getting whiplash are reduced, not wearing one and your like a ragdoll in a tumble drier.
For all those who dont wear a seatbelt.... dont come crying when you dont have a face left after flying though the windscreen.....

Tony

Fullonloon

It's your own choice. Either wear it or not? Why enforce people if they don't want to? Why does it bother you if not their wearing a seatbelt? It shouldn't. I've heard stories about how seatbelts not saving lives.

Like the time a guy living out of the country was being driven over here (who never ever wore a seatbelt) was forced to by law. The car was invloved in a crash, the seatbelt wouldn't release and he burned. Nasty business.

I do, but then that's through habit and law.

Tim Bomford

I wear my seatbelt and make sure the passengers do to. If you are stopped and the passengers are not wearing their belts I'm led to believe I'd be prosecuted not them. I ain't getting prosecuted because of a passenger. I agree with Markus totally. Good attitude mate

Tim

Butkus

I won't set off until everyone has their seatbelt on either, and if I'm a front seat passenger in someone elses car I'll make sure the people sitting behind me have theirs on too as they'll kill me if we have an accident (I'd be crushed).

It worries me to see children climbing about the car without seatbelts on

griffm

Second nature, Belt up before I start the car.

midget1500

OMG i can't believe so few people wear seatbelts!!!

I've had a few accidents and a BIG one and thankfully have been uninjured in all cases. i couldn't dream of driving without one and in the MG i have a 4-point harness which i think is great - not only from a safety aspect but it holds you in the seat and you can really feel what the car is doing - i can't see how anyone can drive in a spirited manner along a twisty road without a seatbelt (you are just going to be hanging on to the steering wheel while your *** slides all over the place!).

yes, there will always be freak accidents where a seatbelt my actually cause more injury, but 99.9% of the time you know it's gonna save you. you really are VERY silly if you don't wear a seatbelt, unless you want to get intimate with the dashboard/windscreen - doesn't bare thinking about

steven

[Edited by midget1500 - 4/4/2003 7:32:09 PM]

Jen

Recent study we ran in Eastleigh, Hampshire with both a Primary and Junior School showed 82% of kids in the back of cars that left from in front of the school didn't have seatbelts on. We couldn't believe how massively high the numbers were and immediatly launched a campaign about in car safety, I can't remember the exact figures but the statistics re: kids unbelted are scary

Re: being trapped in the car when your seatbelt sticks - we have a seatbelt cutter and window smasher attached to the centre console, better to be safe than sorry

When I was younger my Mum's car wouldn't start unless we had our seatbelts on (high level technology for a 1970's mini ) - and I continue that today, my car doesn't move unless my passengers are safe

Re: Accidents in 5 miles of your home - that's more likley because people get complacement and don't concentrate on roads they drive all the time hence more accidents

Red Scooby widdow

TIM, I think you are only responsible for passengers under 12 years of age in your car, bit hazy on the front seat rule... Higway code should explain all...

Eagle7

Last time i checked the highway code was a while ago, but the law states that anyone over the age of 14 is responsible for themselves. The driver is responsible for everyone else.

If you have a couple of kids and their parent in a car and you get pulled over then driver would be responsible for the kids, but adult responsible for themselves.

Of course, after seeing that 'belt up in the back' ad, I wouldnt let anyone sit behind me who wasn't belted up!

I had a relatively low speed accident myself a while ago, but still managed to smash dashboard with my knees and had some nasty whiplash. But the way i look at it is that bruises and muscle injuries heal, whereas cracking my skull on the dashboard could easily have killed me.

JoeRST

I dont wear my seatbelt for one reason, i would rather be dead then in a wheelchair or worse.

I have had friends who have had accidents who on asking crash investigators were told that if they had bin wearing one due to forces involved they would either be dead or confined to wheelchairs...so its not for me.

But aswell as that isnt it ou choice as adults not to wear it..i know its law but you can not blame RTA deaths on not wearing the seltbelt as it could get silly and start blaming the cars ability to go fast...blah blah...its the persons choice.

Ask a different question to get the same end answer...

Who speeds regulary?

Who talks on the fone when driving?

Who this?

who that?

these all end up the same way if circumstances prevail..in an accident or worse a fatality.

Rusty Festa

Click-klunk

boomer

For all those who say that they don't wear a seat belt "because a few years ago i was in a crash, and if i had been wearing a seatbelt i would be dead" - remember that there are probably many times more people who didn't wear a seat belt and are now dead Sadly, they are not in a position to post their opinions on this BBS

If you are worried about getting burned (or drowned) in a crash, then buy a belt-cutter/window-smasher from Halfords! I would rather have a few cracked ribs, than no face!

mb

C

I dont wear one as I feel its my decision if I want to or not...

IMHO (although no doubt we all do it) speeding is worse as the is a much higher chance of hurting other people. I accept the consquences that may happen....

What really pisses me off is cars that beep at you so plug the bloody thing in..

My housemate works for Renault & drives a new megane, he refuses point blank to wear a seatbelt after one night he crashed & it saved his life because he wasnt belted up..

But the bloody thing beeps at you incessantly till you plug in. So he had to go to his parts dept & buy a buckle to plug in to stop the bloody car beeping at him all the time when he drives

I kind of agree with his opinion after seeing the wreck of a car he was in

Chris_S199

It's all well and good saying it's your decision and you'd rather be dead than disabled, but it might be worth sparing a thought for the police, ambulance and fire service who have to scrape what's left of you off the road. That memory will stay with them for the rest of their lives...

jaf01uk

Here, Here, I am that ambulance man! and I have seen too many cases of serious injury or death in what looks like a minor accident otherwise. People just do not realise the forces involved (try hitting a high kerb at 5mph square on) Burr is right when he says British airbags are supplemental to seat belts, they are called SRS on most cars (the american airbags are bigger than space hoppers cos the yanks wont wear belts)
Thing that puzzles me is that most people under about 30 - 35 will have learnt to drive since the law came in and surely by the time they pass their test should feel wierd if they dont wear it, I know I do, and just dont even get me started on kids! parents drive them to school cos they think it's safer!........ and allow them to not wear seat belts, absolute lunacy!!!