So you don't need Seatbelts?

[rustybayonet]

It's never hit home with this sever realization before.  

Last Thursday evening, a 19 year old young man, just graduated this year from high school,  driving only a couple of blocks to get ice cream.  Going thru an intersection he was hit on the drivers side left rear of his SUV.  The impact spin his vehicle around and it flipped over 2-3 times.  Unfortunately because of a split second decision not to buckle up, he was partially thrown from his SUV, it rolled over him a couple of times, and now he is dead.
Why does this hit me so hard?  The young man was in scouting, an Eagle Scout of about 1 year, in a unit that I am District Commissioner of, [formally Unit Commissioner of his unit].  Last Sunday his father [a friend] co-sponsored another boy from the same unit,  presenting him for his Eagle board of review.  I was on that board for review, and each of the boys helped one another with their Eagle service projects.  
Please; So you don't experience the same tragedy this family is now going through, make sure your kids and/or grandkids remember to buckle-up.

[rich_t]

I don't have a problem with buckling up.  I did so even when it was strictly voluntary.

I have a problem with NOT doing so being illegal.  I don't need some control freaks in the government telling me what I MUST do for my own good.

Seat belts, salt, trans fat oils.  My life.  My choice.

[DefiantSix]

Thanks for the reminder, Rusty. 

In our household, the seatbelts are engaged before the keys go in the ignition switch.  Usually before the door is closed, but definitely before the keys are in place.  It's the only way my boy sees us operate.

[formerlurker]

Agreed - just so stupid not to.

[Schadenfreude]

So sad to hear about this young man's life being taken so early. No doubt, it makes great sense to wear seat belts. 

[compaqxp]

I can personally vouch for wearing seat belts, if I didn't I'd have been dead years ago.

I know quite a few people don't and I can't understand it, as it doesn't take hardly anything to cause you serious harm when not wearing them.

It's sad things like this happen when it can be prevented

I have a problem with NOT doing so being illegal.

And things like this are why I'll forever differ from most here. I have no problems with seatbelt laws and personally support them. Seat belt laws aren't just for protecting you, they're for protecting everyone around you.

[BlueStateSaint]

I can personally vouch for wearing seat belts, if I didn't I'd have been dead years ago.

I know quite a few people don't and I can't understand it, as it doesn't take hardly anything to cause you serious harm when not wearing them.

It's sad things like this happen when it can be prevented

And things like this are why I'll forever differ from most here. I have no problems with seatbelt laws and personally support them. Seat belt laws aren't just for protecting you, they're for protecting everyone around you.

Split decision here, compaq.  I sure wouldn't be here today if it weren't for a seatbelt.  But, if someone doesn't want to wear their seatbelt in someone else's car, that's fine.  If I'm driving, I am of the mind that they better have it on.   

[thelaughingman]

So sad to hear about this young man's life being taken so early. No doubt, it makes great sense to wear seat belts. 

Glad you said "great" instead of "common."

[rich_t]

I can personally vouch for wearing seat belts, if I didn't I'd have been dead years ago.

I know quite a few people don't and I can't understand it, as it doesn't take hardly anything to cause you serious harm when not wearing them.

It's sad things like this happen when it can be prevented

And things like this are why I'll forever differ from most here. I have no problems with seatbelt laws and personally support them. Seat belt laws aren't just for protecting you, they're for protecting everyone around you.

Who else is being protected by my wearing a seat belt?

What other personal choices should I just sit back and allow others to legislate/regulate away from me, for my own good? 

[Eupher]

I am loathe for government regulation of this type (helmet laws for motorcycles, etc.), although I'm a firm believer in the adage "if you don't protect yourself and you get hurt, you get ZERO insurance coverage and ZERO health care". IOW, if you wanna play, you pay.

That said, I began wearing seat belts only when it was mandatory to do so -- and that was in Germany in the early Eighties.

It's inconceivable for me now to not wear seat belts, and I probably would've gone in that direction anyway, but to be 100% honest, I did so only when the German government mandated their wear.

[rich_t]

That could be a pretty slippery slope Eupher.  Once you allow others (insurance companies in this case) to start dictating your actions, where does it stop?

[formerlurker]

That could be a pretty slippery slope Eupher.  Once you allow others (insurance companies in this case) to start dictating your actions, where does it stop?

Insurance companies do dictate your actions for coverage.

[Thor]

The insurance companies are the ones that lobbied Congress to get seatbelts placed in every vehicle and lobbied again to the states to require laws to wear seatbelts. What I find stupid and hypocritical are states that require people to wear seatbelts, but DO NOT require people to wear helmets when riding a motorcycle. I see idiots here in Texas with flip flops, shorts, tshirts and no helmets all of the time. I just shake my head at the stupidity.

[Eupher]

That could be a pretty slippery slope Eupher.  Once you allow others (insurance companies in this case) to start dictating your actions, where does it stop?

Yep, this was addressed very well by FL and Thor.

I understand what insurance companies are doing to minimize their losses. Whether that's lobby Congress or anyplace else, they're going to protect their interests even if that means Bubba has to wear seatbelts when he gets in the car and Scooter has to wear a helmet when he fires up the Harley.

My problem really has more to do with the uninsured who wind up splattered on the concrete because they're wearing flip-flops, t-shirts, shorts, and no helmet, when that 98-year-old granny pulls out in front of them. Those dumb bastards wind up in the hospital getting patched up and the taxpayer winds up footing the bill.

Screw that. I say if you can't pay, you can't play. Your ass gets left on the side of the road like so much road kill if you wind up a hood ornament.

[NHSparky]

Sorry, but seatbelts have gone from a safety issue to one of revenue generation.  Nothing more.

And yes, while I live in the ONLY state that does not require me to wear a seatbelt, I still do.  My life, my choice.

[IassaFTots]

I am loathe for government regulation of this type (helmet laws for motorcycles, etc.), although I'm a firm believer in the adage "if you don't protect yourself and you get hurt, you get ZERO insurance coverage and ZERO health care". IOW, if you wanna play, you pay.

That said, I began wearing seat belts only when it was mandatory to do so -- and that was in Germany in the early Eighties.

It's inconceivable for me now to not wear seat belts, and I probably would've gone in that direction anyway, but to be 100% honest, I did so only when the German government mandated their wear.

I started wearing a seatbelt in the 80's for the very same reason, and don't even think twice about it now.  I remember being upset, because the seatbelt wrinkled my freshly ironed shirts.      I started wearing one because I didn't want to pay the ticket, and I continue to wear one for my safety, and those around me. 

[thundley4]

Sorry, but seatbelts have gone from a safety issue to one of revenue generation.  Nothing more.

And yes, while I live in the ONLY state that does not require me to wear a seatbelt, I still do.  My life, my choice.

Very true.  When Illinois first passed the seat belt law, they said no tickets would be issued for non usage unless other  violations were involved.  Now several times a year they have "Click It, or Ticket" campaigns with roadside safety checks just for seat belts.

[cmypay]

I remember exactly when TX put in the seatbelt law: three weeks after I was riding with my Grandmother and we got T-boned. I grabbed that cool little door handle and ended up with a separated shoulder. Granny got a ruptured eardrum and a concussion from hitting the windshield. The cop kept saying how "lucky" we were. Haven't gotten into a car without putting on a seatbelt since. Anyone riding in my car wears a seatbelt, don't much care what they do in their own car, but I won't put the car into drive until EVERYONE is buckled up.

[seahorse513]

Sorry, but seatbelts have gone from a safety issue to one of revenue generation.  Nothing more.

And yes, while I live in the ONLY state that does not require me to wear a seatbelt, I still do.  My life, my choice.

yes , but under 18 you do however. One doesn't need insurance, unless your car is being financed. New Hampshire really does live up to its motto, 'Live free, or die"

[debk]

When I was in a horrendous accident as a kid(1965), seatbelts were kind of new. My dad's company car had them(lapbelts only in the front seat), he worked for an insurance company and the company required that he and his passengers use them.

My dad was wearing his, he survived though badly hurt. My mother was wearing hers and was cut in half by it, but would have died from her other injuries even without the seat belt damage. I was in the back seat, laying down asleep, and survived only because I was laying down and asleep.

My dad would never wear a seat belt again, unless he was in my car and I made him wear it. My mother's brothers would never wear one.

I will ALWAYS put on my seat belt, no matter where I sit in a car.

Should it be a law? I don't know.

I do think a driver owes it to his/her passengers to wear one.

Obviously, a child should always be strapped in.

An adult passenger? Odds of survival are better with a seatbelt than without. Do you really want to take a chance? It's a type of Russian roulette...eventually, the bullet's going to be in the chamber....

[Gina]

I used to not wear seatbelts.  I had a wreck (fishtailed and hit a pole on the drivers side door) and it bent my car into a v.  Knocked me into the passenger side door.  Cop told me if I had been wearing a seatbelt he thought my neck surely would have been broken.

I started wearing seatbelts when the police cracked down on tickets so I am religious about them now.  I was just lucky that one time, not taking chances ever again.

[Chris_]

I've always worn seatbelts.  I was taught to put it on as soon as I was old enough to ride in the car and I've never deviated from it. 

I remember riding along with my brother one night after work in his Mitsubishi Starion/Dodge Charger.  Some drunk bastard was backing his two-ton lux-O-barge Thunderbird across the street from his buddy's driveway to his.  Dark car, dark street, and he had no lights on.  We were doing about 45mph... by the time we saw his car, we were already on top of it.  That car was a tank.  Drunk-ass got knocked out of the driver's seat onto the street next to him and pretty much ruined both vehicles.  Other than going to jail for another DUI, he was okay. 

[ExGeeEye]

A few things I think everyone can agree on:

1.  State laws and federal regs tick people off.  Enforcement procedures more so.

2.  At least we can still drive on any public road we like, as far as our gas budget will last us.  There aren't yet checkpoints at county or state lines where we have to show our travel permits before we can cross them (and having such checkpoints at National borders is a good thing).

3.  Seat belts are a pretty good idea most of the time.

4.  Every situation is a little different.  Sometimes a lot different.  A seatbelt would have saved George Patton, but would have done Ryan Dunn no good at all.

5.  State and federal law notwithstanding, the ultimate authority in a vehicle-- the captain of the vessel, if you will-- is the owner/driver, who has every right to enjoin seatbelt use on all the passengers.

[IassaFTots]

A few things I think everyone can agree on:

1.  State laws and federal regs tick people off.  Enforcement procedures more so.

2.  At least we can still drive on any public road we like, as far as our gas budget will last us.  There aren't yet checkpoints at county or state lines where we have to show our travel permits before we can cross them (and having such checkpoints at National borders is a good thing).

3.  Seat belts are a pretty good idea most of the time.

4.  Every situation is a little different.  Sometimes a lot different.  A seatbelt would have saved George Patton, but would have done Ryan Dunn no good at all.

5.  State and federal law notwithstanding, the ultimate authority in a vehicle-- the captain of the vessel, if you will-- is the owner/driver, who has every right to enjoin seatbelt use on all the passengers.

I agreed with everything you stated, so Hi5 to you. 

[rustybayonet]

Thanks to all for the feedback.  The only reason I started wearing seatbelts - many moons ago, while in service, my last base required them if you wanted to bring your car on the base.  They sold and installed them for a huge $7.00 front and rear [in the early 60's], so I figured if I had to have them I'd start using them.
I really don't know if they would have saved the scouts life, probably would have keep him from being partially ejected and the vehicle rolling over him - sounds logical, but who knows.  In my case though, a son-in-law hitting a pole, being ejected from his vehicle through the windshield, and being killed.... then this - I will continue to wear them and require all my passengers to do the same.