Author Topic: If you didn't have to wear..... (Read 1929 times)

Ripsnort · « **Reply #30 on:** August 21, 2007, 12:32:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bronk
My point is depending on what type of collision , belts can help or hurt.

Argue that all ya want.

Bronk

I'll argue facts and data showing you're more likely to survive a crash with a belt on...

Maverick · « **Reply #31 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:12:29 PM »

Don't bother Rip, he'd rather risk the 95% of collisions where a belt would keep him alive than risk the 5% (and I'm pretty sure that 5% sure is an exaggeration) of collisions where a belt is no help. Kinda like forgetting that as the car crushes to move the seat from a side impact the belt mounting points also move changing the symmetry of the fit.

There ain't no 100% guaranteed safety device out there.

Airscrew · « **Reply #32 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:48:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Maverick
There ain't no 100% guaranteed safety device out there.

although not 100% the driver is the best safety device, all the other stuff is to protect us from the idiots. I've got about 700,000 miles driven since 1977 (i didnt count the early years before I got my license, and even then its probably underestimated cause theres no way I can remember every little trip I've driven)
In all those miles I had one traffic accident.
Early morning after a night shift, raining, 25 mph speed limit, doing about 20mph. 1981 Grand Prix ran a stop sign right in front of me, 1982 Ford Exp. Young, inexperienced, I hit the brakes first and when I started to slide I decided to try and turn away from him and I almost made it. I caught his front bumper. The big boom box stereo I had on the seat next to me slammed and smashed into the dashboard. Luckly I was wearing my seatbelt or else I would have smacked the steering wheel with my chest and possible my face off the windshield. Speed at impact was probably around 15 mph +/-, even though I was sliding I was slowing down. I could have ended up with at least cracked ribs and lacerations and a broken nose. I didnt even have a bruise or scratch. I'll wear my seatbelt and let the daredevils go without.

lazs2 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:20:01 PM »

good... some are answering the question...

Others are turning it into something it is not... a discussion of whether or not seatbelts save lives.

That is not in contention...helmets and firesuits and full cage rollbars would all save lives too...

I wear seatbelts when I want and that is fairly often... never the 3 point ones tho... they are simply uncomfortatble an destroy the experiance too much... In my el camino it is not uncommon for me to power drift the car in third gear on the on ramp getting on to the freeway... I wear a lap belt.. in the Healey.. well... you would simply have to see the car... I wear a lap belt but... honestly... It probly wouldn't do much good.. the think is a deathtrap.

I have survived numerous crashes without a helmet on bikes... no big deal. Not saying it is better or worse... just talking about choice.

Now... back to the question.. would you wear em all the time? How can you ride in a taxi without getting faint? Do you deserve a ticket for not wearing one 2 blocks in a 25mph zone to the store?

as for people telling me that they are not uncomfortable or restrict movement... or... take away from the pleasure of driving...

Well... I got to say.. I believe that about as much as when they tell me a rubber doesn't take away from sex.

lazs

lazs2 · « **Reply #34 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:26:13 PM »

texas mom... I would have to disagree with you on my motives... I don't care if you wear one or not... I don't think it makes me look cool to not wear one in a Lincoln town car and I don't car if someone thinks I am over cautious wearing one in my hot rods.

I would in fact... say that you have it backwards... I would say that the people who really wear them out of choice are afraid to look wussy and so want everyone else to have to wear em... sorta easy to see how that works if you watch children... they won't do something if the others don't have to do it.

But I said earlier.. the question is not if it is smart or right or how you look but... simply... if you were not forced to... would you wear em all the time?

Would you trust your own judgement and make your own decisions or do you feel that you are incapable of making such a choice for yourself and need a law?

Why even have a law if it is such a good idea? who in their right mind would not wear one and... aren't we better off without them?

After all... they will surely die.. no one has gotten through life without one.

lazs

cav58d · « **Reply #35 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:32:35 PM »

As I found out 2 months ago after being issued a failure to wear a seatbelt ticket while riding in the backseat of a taxi, seatbelts are not required for any occupant over 18 years of age while riding in a taxi, at least in NJ.

At any rate, when I am driving a car, and 99% of the time as a px, I put my seat belt on as soon as I get in the car, not because its the law, but because it was what I was raised to do, and its now become second nature.

I dont think cops should ever go easy on people without seatbelts....If you are in a state that requires a belt to be worn, and you are caught without one, then you broke the law, and should pay the price.

Like I said in the Michael Vick thread..."It doesn't matter if you support or are against any particular law. If you are caught breaking it, there are a series of penalty that you will face. We all know laws are no means of deterrence, so essentially there is nothing to stop you from wearing a seat belt in this example. That said, don't complain when you are pulled over and given a ticket for not wearing a belt, when your in a state that requires it. Right after the cop drives away, feel free to knock that uncomfortable, experience tattering, potentially lethal during an anomoly seat belt off, but just rememeber. When they pull you over again, you have no right to complain. You knew the law, and you broke...So you pay the price for it.

And by the way, my dad NEVER wears his belt, and I tell him he's a jackarse for not doing so. =)

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #36 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:34:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bronk
My point is depending on what type of collision , belts can help or hurt.

Argue that all ya want.

Bronk

Armor helped on the medieval battlefield, unless you fell in a river, but most warriors would have liked to have some.

Apparently sword and arrow damage was a more pressing danger.

That being said, I would like to make the choice and I would choose belts.

Halo · « **Reply #37 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:41:23 PM »

I've worn seatbelts ever since they became available and insist my family does too. Just makes sense. Been rearended a couple times and the seatbelt saved me from smacking into the steering wheel and windshield.

Admittedly, before seatbelts it was nice to be able to move around unencumbered on the bench seats in the big ol' cars. Then I remember one time Dad had to stop suddenly and I flew off the seat and smacked my head on the dashboard of the old Plymouth.

That hurt. Big bump. I was okay, but when seatbelts came along, didn't have to ask me twice to buckle up.

lazs2 · « **Reply #38 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:43:24 PM »

again... it is not about if it is good for you or bad for you... I simply asked...

Would you if you didn't have to? would you every single time?

How can you say yes and then the second the law says you don't have to (riding in a taxi).... you simply don't put em on?

How does that work? is the taxi so much safer? a different universe? don't the same laws of safety and logic apply in taxi universe?

did you fill out an organ donor card when you decided to forgo the seatbelt in the taxi? did your logic go away or....

did you do a risk assessment and a comfort assessment and simply make a grown up free mans choice?

any discussion of how much good they are is meaningless if you won't wear em in a taxi. If you don't demand em in a bus.

Everyone here seems to have strong feelings on why they need em yet... they seem to feel that a law is needed to force them to wear em...

In other words... they tell me they have better judgement than me but then want a law to make them do the right thing... they don't trust their own judgement?

lazs

Airscrew · « **Reply #39 on:** August 21, 2007, 02:50:45 PM »

Well whether or not you believe it, I cant help that part... but
I do not now nor have I ever felt that seatbelts, lap or shoulder, are or ever were uncomfortable. Restrict movement? sure if you're trying to reach your glovebox at 60 MPH. Reach my steering wheel? no, reach the gas or brakes? no. change the station on the radio? no. No restriction of movement unless of course you're trying to do gymnastics while driving. ( I can think of a couple of times were it restricted movement and I took off the seatbelt but kids read these boards so I'll left it at that)
I cant comment on Taxis, I rarely use one, maybe 3 times in 30 years. If they had a seatbelt I probably used it, if it didnt I dont recall. ( I did have a fun ride in a taxi in Munich Germany once, and no seatbelt either, 4 of us crammed in the back seat) I've rode buses too, and although I find it curious that the goverment that is trying to protect us says we should wear seatbelts, that school buses, city buses and other like mass transportation does not have any seatbelts (except for the driver) but I dont worry about it nor do I avoid buses either.

One exception on uncomfortable would be when I helped a friend of a friend work his pit area for some sprint car racing in Waco. After all the racing was over he let me drive one of his cars for about 30 minutes on the track. All that gear and belts and helmet were uncomfortable and very restrictive. Straps to hold on the helmet, hooked to straps attached to the suit and seatbelts. Straps on my arms hooked to the suit or the car to keep my limbs inside incase I rolled the car. Although I understood the reasons for the gear it kinda made the experience "less" fun than what I imagined it to be. I could I guess add that I remember when we used to go to the go-kart track all you needed was long pants and shoes. Now they have you wear a helmet, seatbelts and wear heavy coveralls. Kinda ruins it for me.

I also pretty sure that in all the miles I've driven I didnt always have my seatbelt on

and Rubbers do take away from sex but its better than no sex...

cav58d · « **Reply #40 on:** August 21, 2007, 03:05:12 PM »

Lazs...You already know the answer to your question. Yes, most people would continue to wear their seatbelts while driving their own vehicle, even if it wasn't required. You already know that your a basarse rebel who will only wear a seatbelt at a time and place of YOUR choosing, so why do you care about what other people think? Do you need to hear from other non seatbelt wearing people to make yourself feel better?

Who cares? If you want to wear a seatbelt, then do it. If you don't want to wear one then dont wear one. Just remember not every state is New Hampshire, and dont complain about your ticket when you have broken a law.

rpm · « **Reply #41 on:** August 21, 2007, 03:29:06 PM »

Lazs, don't wear your belt. Show the government who's who.

Personally, seatbelts have saved my life more than once.

Curval · « **Reply #42 on:** August 21, 2007, 03:37:32 PM »

I'll answer lazs honestly....would I use one if it wasn't mandatory? Probably not.

WilldCrd · « **Reply #43 on:** August 21, 2007, 03:48:51 PM »

Im with Maveric on the whole helmet thing. I wear one all the time. The only time i haven't is when my GF doesnt have hers and its a short hop (I make her wear it)
Im a member of the Marines Motorcycle Club. Most of the guys dont wear a helmet. One in particular was making fun of me one day for wearing mine.
His nickname is "ditch" for obvious reasons. later that day he once again proved why hsi name is ditch by loosing it in a curve going into the ditch and suffered a concussion. he now wears a helmet AND we put training wheels on the back of his sportster for good measure.
I've also had some Garland motor officers see me riding home from work and they will pull up and ride beside me (i've known em for awhile). They wouldnt do this if i ddint wear a helmet.

AS for seatbelts I always wear em. When I was a cop I wore em and I also NEVER EVER had a issue getting out of the belt or the car in a emergency situation. I've seen to many accidents when some 17 year old who HAD their whole life ahead of em only to have it cut short because they didnt wear one.

texasmom · « **Reply #44 on:** August 21, 2007, 03:56:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by texasmom
Yes, I absolutely would. And my kids would too. I guess I can't answer for TxDad ~ I think he would most of the time.

What's the advantage to not wearing a seatbelt again?
laziness?
transforming yourself from a dweeby middle aged man to a cool middle aged man?

That wasn't meant to be a rhetorical question. I really did want to know what the advantage was. I was making assumptions that the two items I listed were possible reasons, but not saying that those are the ones I believe were being placed here as conclusions.

Lazs, you did answer my question: that it was for the pleasure of driving. Okay. I think there's probably a fair amount that would agree with you; and likewise wouldn't wear a seatbelt if they weren't bound by law to.

If pot were legal, I still wouldn't smoke it to fulfill a wish for a little bit of something that some would consider enjoyable. And if seatbelts weren't mandatory, I'd still wear one.

That doesn't mean I'm just checking the block & letting the government tell me what I need to do, and what I don't need to do. It's good safety, it's good common sense, so I'm for it. If the government happens to agree with me on that item, good for them for having a little bit of common sense too.