Do you wear your seat belt?

vmaxer

I'd say about 90% of the time, getting better than I use to be:cool:

They did prevent me from getting hurt once in a drag race car:biggrin:

All I had were bruises where they were across my hips....

Don't ask:rolleyes:

tonyb

cfrizz wrote: »

This is not about the individual, this is about the greater good of society as a whole.

You don't live on this planet alone and if your bad behavior can have a massive negative impact on others, then nine times out of ten a rule/law is going to be made to greatly limit that impact.

Such as smoking in public places. Pollute your lungs if you like, but you don't have the right to pollute everyone elses.

.

" A massive negative impact " Cathy ? A tad overblown wouldn't you say ?
Do you remember when the whole Tabacco lawsuits were going on ? Insurance premiums were supposed to be greatly reduced because it would save insurance companies tons of cash. Maybe half the people have quit or never started due to that campaign. Never saw my premiums go down one cent,how about you ? Has car insurance gone down because of seat belt laws ? They find some other excuse to justify charging you more.

Interesting that you think you can tell me how to live my life,[ smoking in public], and I have no say in what you do with yours. Or is it the word "public"? Also interesting. Since you think it's ok to regulate my behavior in public, but if I wanted to regulate yours, then you might have a problem. Or is it the word "health". A very loosely used word these days. Your cars emissions, that farmers pigs, those jet airplanes, that smelly gym, the steam from the sewers, the exhaust from your favorite eatery, all in part contribute to your air, your "health" in "public". Who decides whats best for this "greater good of society" ? You ? me ? The 500 plus members of congress ? Lets for example say **** marriage is bad for the "greater good ", would you support that ? How about a law that says you can't have more than 2 children because it is in " the greater good of society's" best intrest.

The so called "greater good" is socialist speak. One group deciding what is good or bad for society with control over it. No individual rights, unless of coarse it conforms with the greater good which is deemed by a few in power. I love ya to death Cath, but we certainly do not agree when it comes to individual rights.

DMara

There are so many judges in our CP nowadays :biggrin: A lot of grumpy angry faces and long posts with multiple quotes & big words even though it's almost Christmas

Tony M

I personally do like the pressure on my chest from the belts. I also ,on long trips, will put the chest strap behind me and I still have the seat strap on. I remember when that was the only belt in cars for years.

Now my insurence pays out $10,000 extra automatically to a beneficiary if ever we are killed in an auto accident while wearing our belts. Well, just for my daughters benifit and that frickin click it or ticket law, I put it on every time.

Otherwise I wouldn't unless I drove alot. I used to drive 3000 miles a week quite often but I don't drive alot anymore. I did fall asleep at the wheel doing 60 going to Atlanta but miraculously woke up in my lane without drifting a foot. Major wake-up call :eek:!!!!

cheif pontiac

I wear my seat belt 99.9 % of the time I still have managed to rack up three tickets in 20 years. One time was a long road trip I was in passenger seat with a heavy winter coat on after i took it off we were lite up by a state trooper for speeding. The belt had been off less than a minute. I think he saw me removing the coat and knew it had to be off. Another time i was two blocks from my house and rolled a stop sign. I guess I should have been set to travel before leaving. The third time the cop just flat out lied to write another ticket. The funny thing is after I went to court it was the only ticket that stuck as it did not show up on the judges screen. So he didn't dismiss it.
I don't think there is any doubt that wearing a seat belt outweighs the cost of not wearing one. These slight chances of being trapped or even a resulting injury from the belt are so small compared to it saving your life.
I also wear a helmet while cycling even casual. When I raced I managed to rack up 4 trips to the ER, twice I totally cracked a helmet opened. This is why I cannot type and my user name is spelled wrong.

Rivrrat

our vehicles don't move until everyone is belted up.

cfrizz

tonyb wrote: »

" A massive negative impact " Cathy ? A tad overblown wouldn't you say ?
Do you remember when the whole Tabacco lawsuits were going on ? Insurance premiums were supposed to be greatly reduced because it would save insurance companies tons of cash. Maybe half the people have quit or never started due to that campaign. Never saw my premiums go down one cent,how about you ? Has car insurance gone down because of seat belt laws ? They find some other excuse to justify charging you more.

Interesting that you think you can tell me how to live my life,[ smoking in public], and I have no say in what you do with yours. Or is it the word "public"? Also interesting. Since you think it's ok to regulate my behavior in public, but if I wanted to regulate yours, then you might have a problem. Or is it the word "health". A very loosely used word these days. Your cars emissions, that farmers pigs, those jet airplanes, that smelly gym, the steam from the sewers, the exhaust from your favorite eatery, all in part contribute to your air, your "health" in "public". Who decides whats best for this "greater good of society" ? You ? me ? The 500 plus members of congress ? Lets for example say **** marriage is bad for the "greater good ", would you support that ? How about a law that says you can't have more than 2 children because it is in " the greater good of society's" best intrest.

The so called "greater good" is socialist speak. One group deciding what is good or bad for society with control over it. No individual rights, unless of coarse it conforms with the greater good which is deemed by a few in power. I love ya to death Cath, but we certainly do not agree when it comes to individual rights.

Now who is overblowing things Tony? All of your examples have yet to be proven that they will cause cancer 2nd hand. Cigarette smoke has been proven to do so. **** marriage? Go for it, it has zero impact on my life, if they want to add their supposed 10% to the more than 50% divorce rate, knock themselves out.

Your rights are not being violated since you still have the right to smoke, you just can't do it in public buildings where your second hand smoke might contribute to giving anyone else cancer.

Basically what you're saying is by vigorously maintaining your individual rights is that you wish to remain selfish & selfserving. That's just human nature, but it is also why laws were invented, since if given the chance to do the right thing versus the wrong thing especially for greed, then 99.9% will always do the wrong thing.:biggrin:

Polkersince85

Always. T-boned a van in a Corolla at 35 mph. Walked away. Air bags and seat belts work.

kevhed72

Yeah, I refuse to wear seatbelts, wear motorcycle helmets, I eat as much unhealthy, fast food as I wish, smoke 2 packs of Camel unfiltered a day, and refuse to purchase health insurance. You know why? Screw common sense and the facts....ITS MY RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN, and I'm tired of "big government" telling me what to do!!! And I'm not going to take it anymore....... :rolleyes:

Tony M

tony millard wrote: »

I personally DO NOT like the pressure on my chest from the belts. I also ,on long trips, will put the chest strap behind me and I still have the seat strap on. I remember when that was the only belt in cars for years.

Now my insurence pays out $10,000 extra automatically to a beneficiary if ever we are killed in an auto accident while wearing our belts. Well, just for my daughters benifit and that frickin click it or ticket law, I put it on every time.

Otherwise I wouldn't unless I drove alot. I used to drive 3000 miles a week quite often but I don't drive alot anymore. I did fall asleep at the wheel doing 60 going to Atlanta but miraculously woke up in my lane without drifting a foot. Major wake-up call :eek:!!!!

Fixed..^
I don't know why I wrote it the other way and really don't know why I even re-read the post to have caught my own wrong statement.

Carry on..

cfrizz

kevhed72 wrote: »

Yeah, I refuse to wear seatbelts, wear motorcycle helmets, I eat as much unhealthy, fast food as I wish, smoke 2 packs of Camel unfiltered a day, and refuse to purchase health insurance. You know why? Screw common sense and the facts....ITS MY RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN, and I'm tired of "big government" telling me what to do!!! And I'm not going to take it anymore....... :rolleyes:

:eek::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: ROTFLMAO! Thanks Kev, I needed this laugh, it's been a long week!

punk-roc

Always wear my seatbelt, always will.

just thought I'd add that "greater good" type speak is based on utilitarianism and is an ethical and economic principle.. not an "evil socialist" idea.

treitz3

Scenario:

You are driving down a highway downhill on a steep grade and you have approximately 200 feet to get into the right lane in order to get onto a highway of your destination that has a merge lane that only exists for 200 feet. At the same time, a exit ramp from another highway merges into this same right lane and EVERYBODY exiting the other highway needs to get into your lane, otherwise they will have to travel back down the same highway they came from in the opposite direction. In this scenario, you have to think fast, react fast and be safe.

Now, since you only have 200 feet and cars/trucks are all going different speeds and your current speed [posted speed limit] is 55mph. You slow down to 45mph because the exit ramp you will be going onto is 35mph [posted speed limit.....but you can only make that if you are in a Ferrari]. So, you have to look in your rear view mirror and your right hand mirror [as well as make sure nobody is cutting you off or stopping suddenly in front of you] to see if there is anybody coming in your path as you try to turn right into the 200' long merge lane. Problem is, you can't see jack because the traffic coming from the other highway is still rounding the corner and the landscape dictates that you can not see them unless you physically turn around.

No problem.

Until your seat belt restricts you from physically turning around and looking out of the back window to see if cars/trucks coming around the bend at a faster rate of speed than you. What do you do? Hit the brakes and have someone(s) slam into you since you are going downhill at an already slower speed than normal traffic? Go ahead and take the chance that you may hit someone over the guardrail after you merge into the lane anyway because you were blinded by the seatbelt?

No.

You don't wear your seatbelt and this scenario would not happen. You simply turn around, look out of the back window and make a safe driving decision. Now, think for a moment and imagine this same scenario at night time in the rain. Would you want to have your seatbelt on and risk the life of your passengers and another car you can't see due to the seatbelt or would you like the ability to control your own outcome?

That said, I have a perfect driving record. One exception. I got caught not wearing a seatbelt one Sunday a couple of years back. I had just gotten done with a breakfast less than a mile from my pad when I turned into the neighborhood and a state trooper turned his lights on.

I must admit, I was rude to the officer when he asked me why I didn't have my seatbelt on. I said, "Don't you have something better to do on a Sunday morning?". He asked again. I responded, "because I don't like wearing them".

Well, the end result was I got a ticket. It was only $25.00 and no increase in insurance or points. Pissed me off, to tell the truth. I felt as if it was within my right as an American to be "stupid" and not wear a seatbelt. If I suffered the consequences, I would be the only one suffering the consequences. Nobody else.

:mad:

That was 2 years ago...and since I had to fold my company up and go back to working with the "man" for a living [who's company policy is wearing seatbelts, or you are fired] I have started to wear my seatbelt. Not only because I don't want a spot or blemish on my driving record but because I can't stand going in a public place to pay such a stupid 25 dollar fine that IMO, should not have been issued in the first place.

Now, I must say this. I have a wife and a newborn [well, maybe not newborn....1.5 years old] son. Grudgingly, I wear a seatbelt for them. Damnit. If I die due to wearing a seatbelt, I will just become a statistic. On the other hand, if I die without wearing one? I will die an "ignorant and unlawful man".

I guess you can say I'm on the fence about wearing or not wearing a seatbelt but how F'd up is that?

bobman1235

You must either be 600 pounds, or wearing your seatbelt wrong. I have to "turn around" all the time in my car to see behind me and have no problem doing so with a seat belt on.

bigaudiofanatic

Always wear mine and it's automatic when I get in the car.

FTGV

Always,it's been law here since the late 70's with fines now of over $100.Regardless I would feel very uncomfortabe without it.I believe except in rare incidences they do save lives.

Toolfan66

Always!!!!

And I didn't need a law to make me wear one..

treitz3

bobman1235 wrote: »

You must either be 600 pounds, or wearing your seatbelt wrong. I have to "turn around" all the time in my car to see behind me and have no problem doing so with a seat belt on.

Probably 205 wet. No, I'm wearing it like OSHA was in the car with me with the violation pads in hand.

It may be the vehicles I'm driving [Chevy/GMC] but it's annoying as hell and potentially can be a life taking instead of life saving feature. If you hit a bump, it locks...and trust me, the bump(s) do not need to be big or even medium. If you move to fast to get to the radio or pick up something that fell on the floor, it locks.

Fact is, I can not turn around to be safe in certain scenarios with a seatbelt. What happens if the vehicle goes underwater suddenly? I do have a heavy duty utility knife that's in my right pocket to cut the seatbelt.....but wait! The seatbelt is preventing me from getting to the knife to cut it.

:eek:

strider

Every time. Same thing with anyone riding with me.

My dad slipped out of his shoulder belt once to get something out of the back seat of the car while he was a passenger. Some **** in a Mustang with pizza cutters on the front hydroplaned and hit the car he was in; sent him through the windshield, grey matter on the highway.

Polk addict

I always wear my seatbelt, because after many months driving around in India, I find it convenient to have some pressure holding you back so you don't have to be attentive every second... Sure, there aren't really accidents where a seatbelt would be making the decision of life or death in India, but here, that is the case...

For me, just the mental security of having a seatbelt is enough for me to put it on each time I get in a car...

bdaley6509

yes.

ben62670

Who really cares? Wear one if you want; don't if you don't want to. We know the penalties. Now I have a choice too. I can sit here and watch people argue about something that won't change or I can do something productive, or at least entertaining.
BTW Merry Christmas Polkies!
Ben
























Pssst Cathy is a commy.

apc

And I require it for any others in my vehicles. I was a volunteer fireman in another life and we used to roll with auto accidents, usually when spilled liquids could present a fire hazard. We worked one where neither of the occupants wore belts, both hit windshield and it was not pretty. The mental picture I retain to this day is a reminder that seat belts were installed for a reason.

bobman1235

treitz3 wrote: »

Fact is, I can not turn around to be safe in certain scenarios with a seatbelt. What happens if the vehicle goes underwater suddenly? I do have a heavy duty utility knife that's in my right pocket to cut the seatbelt.....but wait! The seatbelt is preventing me from getting to the knife to cut it.

It's all about playing the odds. It's about a billion times more likely you're going to be pushed into a guardrail or smashed head on by a drunk driver, in which cases the seat belt would probably save you, than it is that you'll drive into the Pacific, in which case it would hinder you.

Obviously, it's more likely than both of those things that you will have to see behind you, but considering I've never heard of this problem before and I feel li ke you might be able to modify your turning style to work in a seatbelt. Maybe do some stretches at home and work on neck flexibility

Kidding aside, I effing hate when teh seatbelt locks up and you don't want it to. Most annoying thing in the world.

Sherardp

When I'm out in the field driving our products I do. A Dozer is no fun without a seatbelt. In my vehicle sometimes I do, sometimes not. I recently started wearing it daily though.

Joe08867

So, most of us seem to wear them and the ones that don't think it is there right not too.

I have to say the guys that don't sound like children that were told not to do something and did it anyway.

I wear one whenever I am in the front seat of a vehicle and I recently started wearing them in the back for the front passengers safety as well.

Do I think there needs to be a law? No, I think the police have better things to do with there time. I also think it is my right to choose.

Zeros

I wear one every time I drive, just to add my vote to the pile.

janmike

100%.

inspiredsports

You should have added a survey to the thread so you don't have to hand-tally the votes.

My wife and all 4 driving children wear them 100% of the time.

Last weekend's 3-day blizzard facilitated my 20yr old daughter's spin-out on I77 (no damage), and my son's misfortune of putting my old minivan into a 4' deep ditch (moderate damage).

Both would have been hurt (son would have been hurt badly) without belts.



I just had a thought about race car drivers. They don't need belts unless they crash, but imagine the statistics if they didn't strap in. Regular folks like us don't crash as much, but when we do, the statistics favor being held in place.

nguyendot

I always wear mine, and require it if anyone rides in my car.

My car 50mph --> full size city bus 55mph running red light at intersection = i walked away with minor bruises and a completely totalled car because of my seat belt.

Inertia is not your friend when you aren't wearing a seatbelt folks.