Seat Belts

[mjarrels]

Three local kids in their 20's were killed within two day in car accidents... NONE wearing seat belts. I don't understand what they were thinking. PLEASE folks... buckle up.

mark

 

[Duffster]

Three local kids in their 20's were killed within two day in car accidents... NONE wearing seat belts. I don't understand what they were thinking. PLEASE folks... buckle up.

mark

Do you know for sure they would have lived if wearing them?

 

[silo36]

A sad story indeed. One can only speculate the survivability with seat belts in these accidents. As a 30 year veteran of the fire service, and currently a Fire/Rescue Chief, I can honestly say based on my experience, the ratio of fatalities with seatbelts vs withoutare dramatically low. The seat belt laws aside, common sense should tell us our odds are better with them than without them. I don't believe common sense can be mandated by any law, as the number of accidents we see where people are not wearing them is still high. I believe people should be allowed to choose for themselves, just develop and use common sense.

 

[Bird]

I can kinda understand people who don't want to wear their seat belt. It's one more thing to have to do when you get in a vehicle, but it's also like a lot of other things. Once you get accustomed to it, it's really no trouble. I started wearing a seat belt in 1962; installed the belts myself because the car did not come with them. And while no one ever knows for an absolute certainty, there's little doubt that I would have been killed on December 29, 1965, if it hadn't been for the seat belt I was wearing as a front seat passenger when my partner hit a tree almost dead center of the car's front end. So it's so much a habit for me, that I just wouldn't feel comfortable without the belt on.

 

[grnspot110]

In 29 years in the Fire service, I don't recall ever cutting a seat belt to get a dead victim out out of a vehicle! I'll continue to wear mine!!!!!! ~~ grnspot110

 

[Soundguy]

In 29 years in the Fire service, I don't recall ever cutting a seat belt to get a dead victim out out of a vehicle! I'll continue to wear mine!!!!!! ~~ grnspot110

that statement right there.. ought to be on a BILLBOARD!!

soundguy

 

[k0ua]

I was spreading dirt up and down a very steep slope today, and the seat belt is the only thing that kept me on the tractor, I was so far foward in the seat I had trouble pressing the hydro pedal to go back up the slope(backwards) It was hard to rock my foot back. Without the seat belt, I would have kissed the instrument panel, or run the risk of sliding forward off of the tractor! Sure glad I had it on!.. The L3400 with ballast box, and loaded tires, never spun a tire.
James K0UA

 

[Soundguy]

I addred rops to my primary mowing tractor JUST SO i coul also get seatbelts..

soundguy

 

[rswyan]

In 29 years in the Fire service, I don't recall ever cutting a seat belt to get a dead victim out out of a vehicle! I'll continue to wear mine!!!!!!

I had a friend of mine, drove for the same company I currently do .... was involved in an accident with a plow truck a couple of winters ago up in New Hampshire .....

Plow truck was plowing the inside shoulder ..... and my friend was behind another vehicle and went into the left lane to go around and pass the vehicle ahead of him ....

Right side of the plow caught his van and peeled it open like a can opener - the entire left side of his vehicle was wrapped all the way around the rear ....

He was wearing his lap/shoulder belt ..... which is attached to the driver's side wall ..... he was decapitated instantly, and yes - he didn't have to be cut out of the vehicle.

Regardless, I still wear mine - whether it's an on-road or off-road vehicle.

 

[Rob-D]

Saved my life. Kept me in the seat so I could control the car. I was on an expressway. You have to be there to understand what is happening in a major accident and I'll bet people who have been in them wear belts.

Rob

 

[mjarrels]

Just read in the Whidbey News Times that three more young kids were killed north of Oak Harbor on highway 20... NOT wearing seat belts.

mark

 

[gauthier]

I don't wear seat belts,never have. Having said that[always like to say that],,my wife and daughter do,and my daughter always will,cause,yeah,I believe it might help a little in most wreck type situations.

They are making it harder for people like me though,96 toyota,,just has a light that stays on if belt not hooked,2001 ford f150 gotta push the seat belt button to make chime stop,,2008 honda crv chimes/lights won't stop till every body riding has belt hooked on.

 

[Mace Canute]

People who refuse to wear seatbelts are in the same category as those U-tube ***** who stuff a firecracker into their nostril and light it off.

 

[bdw593]

I understand personal preference but..... Y would u not wear one?... I have always wore one and when I get in a hurry and actually forget to put it on (which is rare), I can tell the first time I hit the brakes and then buckle up. It's a safety restraint. Y wouldn't u wear it?

If you have your family in the vehicle and they are restrained and u are not, in an accident you become a wrecking ball inside if the vehicle putting your family at risk.

Had a situation just like that happen in county I live. Father and young 5yo son in vehicle. Father unrestrained child restrained got into an accident.. See above "wrecking ball" child died. How do u as a parent deal with that? What's the big deal? Buckle your seatbelt.

 

[Qapla]

I can understand those who don't wear them. After all, I have been in/owned several vehicles that have self-retracting belts hat cut right across the neck/shoulder in such a way that they cut in and become very uncomfortable. The constant tugging to keep them from cutting in is as much as a distraction as it is uncomfortable.

That being said, I am not against wearing one. I wear one while driving my Titan. However, I do think that with the improvements made in air-bag technology, the "click-it or ticket" is a bit much. The decision should not be mandated, especially when the number of people pulled and ticketed seems to vary depending on the financial needs of the entity issuing the tickets.

In fact, I will go out on a real limb here ... If you are going to "require" people to wear the seat belt and outlaw the use of cell phones, then you should also outlaw smoking while driving.

 

[gauthier]

I drink beer and rub snuff to,and eat way to much bacon,,,,maybe I'm a thrill seaker?? one of them adrenalin junkies?:laughing:

Have to try the firecracker shoved up my nose,sounds great..

 

[Mousefield]

Wearing seat belts is like wearing a life jacket when boating, most of the time, if needed, they will help save your life. Most drowning are from people not wearing life jackets. We had two guys flip their canoe in a near by river, not wearing life jackets, they died, very good chance if they had been wearing life jackets their families would not be in mourning. One of them left yourg kids. Doesn't mean if you have one on you won't die, just the odds are much greater than if you did wear one. Most car deaths in our area they are not wearing seat belts. I have always buckled up, for over 40 years now.

 

[VitaBene]

Do you know for sure they would have lived if wearing them?

When I get in my car or tractor I put mine on. There is not a ROPs or car body that can save you if you are ejected.

You do whatever you please but if you decide that putting yours on was too much of a hassle and roll your tractor, we will likely read about you in the safety section of this forum.

 

[Willl]

It's a habit now when I climb in the truck or car, don't believe I've ever buckled up in the tractor.

 

[RoyJackson]

People who refuse to wear seatbelts are in the same category as those U-tube ***** who stuff a firecracker into their nostril and light it off.

Yeah...I hate to sound callous, but those killed in accidents in which a seatbelt would have prevented it are candidates for the Darwin Theory of Evolution.