"Why" do people wear their seatbelts?

[donnay]

I think its a load of balls - Maybe a seat belt will stop ya flying through the windscreen - but maybe it`ll break your ribs and drive splinter into your heart!

The laws are patchy too - like, taxi cab drivers do not have to wear seat belts in the UK - neither to "bus" drivers - or passengers.

That annoying beeping sensor thing? yeah, pull its fuse or cut the damn wire !

I agree!!

The school buses here with loads of children have no seat belts either--but by God, you child better be strapped in to an automobile, and if they are under 4'9 they better be in a chair (designed by NASA) that restrains them even more!  

Many years ago (back in the late 70's when seat belts were not mandatory), my grandfather was driving on a big freeway in Dallas.  He was in the left hand lane (this was when people were allowed to drive 70 mph) when the car in front of him slammed on his breaks, he jerked the vehicle quickly to the left because cars were coming up on his right, but because he did that he hit the guard rail and flipped the vehicle over to oncoming traffic on the eastbound side, which caused him to be hit by the eastbound cars.  It was a mess, it was, total, a 20 car pile up when it was all said and done.  

To make a long story short, miraculously, no one died.  My grandfather walked away with a scratch on his ear, from the glass that broke, and a few bumps and bruises.  The paramedics that arrived at the scene said to him, if he had been wearing his seat belt, he may very well not be alive to tell his story.  Because his instinct was-- when that car flipped, he laid down in the front seat, and if he had a seat belt on, that would have restricted him to do so causing him to be crushed, by the roof caving in, when the car flipped.

[chrisfromchi]

Your car, your rules.

after a day or so this still seems like the best answer

[Valerius]

I wore them before it was law, and tried to convince people not to allow the law be passed.

[freedom_commonsense]

They're useful in lower speed crashes, but a high-speed impact may well injure you via concussive force as your abdomen hits the belt.

[Rebelitarian]

I agree!!

The school buses here with loads of children have no seat belts either--but by God, you child better be strapped in to an automobile, and if they are under 4'9 they better be in a chair (designed by NASA) that restrains them even more!  

Many years ago (back in the late 70's when seat belts were not mandatory), my grandfather was driving on a big freeway in Dallas.  He was in the left hand lane (this was when people were allowed to drive 70 mph) when the car in front of him slammed on his breaks, he jerked the vehicle quickly to the left because cars were coming up on his right, but because he did that he hit the guard rail and flipped the vehicle over to oncoming traffic on the eastbound side, which caused him to be hit by the eastbound cars.  It was a mess, it was, total, a 20 car pile up when it was all said and done.  

To make a long story short, miraculously, no one died.  My grandfather walked away with a scratch on his ear, from the glass that broke, and a few bumps and bruises.  The paramedics that arrived at the scene said to him, if he had been wearing his seat belt, he may very well not be alive to tell his story.  Because his instinct was-- when that car flipped, he laid down in the front seat, and if he had a seat belt on, that would have restricted him to do so causing him to be crushed, by the roof caving in, when the car flipped.

Simple.

1) Cars were built like tanks back then so no need for it.

2) Cars are mainly aluminum and plastics and the police need another excuse to collect revenue.

[donnay]

Simple.

1) Cars were built like tanks back then so no need for it.

2) Cars are mainly aluminum and plastics and the police need another excuse to collect revenue.

Possibly?   All I know is, not wearing a seat belt saved my grandfather's life.  I am forever being told to wear my seat belt because it will save my life...how do they know this?  Government is good about putting out cookie-cutter statistics that are usually padded with numbers that help them make their case.

The other thing I hate, is air bags.  I also hate all the newer cars that are operational because of computers!  This is probably why I like the old classics and vintage vehicles! 

[Rebelitarian]

The thing is now-a-days the car is designed to take the abuse and die before you do.

Back in the 1970s they were still using steel in cars so in an accident the steel was taking the brunt of the energy.

The seatbelt has proven valuable for roll overs and slip and slide crashes.  It is important that a person stays centered when everything else in the car is tumbling around like crazy.  That and it keeps a driver at the wheel so a recovery from a potential accident is also more likely.  I myself have been in ice slides where everything in the car was shifting but I was locked firmly in place able to pull out of quite a few potential disasters.

You look at all the instances in NASCAR and stockcar racing in which a good seatbelt and a roll cage has saved countless lives and you'll have to agree it's a law based on physics and not fascism.

[donnay]

The thing is now-a-days the car is designed to take the abuse and die before you do.

Back in the 1970s they were still using steel in cars so in an accident the steel was taking the brunt of the energy.

The seatbelt has proven valuable for roll overs and slip and slide crashes.  It is important that a person stays centered when everything else in the car is tumbling around like crazy.  That and it keeps a driver at the wheel so a recovery from a potential accident is also more likely.  I myself have been in ice slides where everything in the car was shifting but I was locked firmly in place able to pull out of quite a few potential disasters.

You look at all the instances in NASCAR and stockcar racing in which a good seatbelt and a roll cage has saved countless lives and you'll have to agree it's a law based on physics and not fascism.

Umm...Click It or Ticket (with a zero tolerance) is not based on physics, it's based on pure fascism!

[MonkeyPuppet]

Umm...Click It or Ticket (with a zero tolerance) is not based on physics, it's based on pure fascism!

Amen.  I don't care how people try to justify malum prohibitum laws or regulatory nonsense affecting the private sector.  None of them are necessary and provide nothing beneficial to society, but rather provide a funding mechanism for the additional encroachment upon individual rights.

[adissenter2]

Your car, your rules.

do you hold title to that property?  or certificate of title?

what did you use to pay for that car?

has said car been registered?  what exactly does register mean?

[MonkeyPuppet]

do you hold title to that property?  or certificate of title?

what did you use to pay for that car?

has said car been registered?  what exactly does register mean?

*Derail Alert*

Although I'm quite familiar with all these very important points, I would find each of them sophistic if used by the State as justification for just about all traffic laws.

First of all, the MSO (Manufacture's Statement of Origin) is merely a means of providing proof of temporary custodial ownership for transportation services and dealerships.  An acceptable function of the State with regard to motor vehicles (property) is to provide a standardized mechanism for the inhabitants of that State to prove ownership... a Certificate of Title is such a mechanism.  I will admit that vehicle registration seems pointless, though again I would find it an empty argument for the State to use such a governmental institution as evidence against a citizen.  After all, a learned defender in such a case would remind the court that when deciding whether a case against a citizen has merit (or where the government would defend itself against a citizen seeking remedy), certain principles apply... where the State may use certain instruments as prima facie evidence, the plain meaning rule and prima impressionis, as well as some juicy ones regarding contracts and disclosure (fraus est celare fraudem), would be hearty weapons of defense.

As for the currency used to reimburse the manufacturer and retailer for the labor and expense of bringing the vehicle to sale, it is a matter of law that Congress shall have the authority to coin money and regulate the value thereof.  Even if Congress has illegally farmed that duty out to a private entity-for-profit (again, delegata potestas non potest delegari), the value of the currency is still a representation of labor... specifically that belonging to the individual holding the currency, even if that labor was not originally their own.  Besides, the coinage of money does not dictate ownership of goods and services acquired by its use as a method of payment... not in the U.S. anyway.

However a legislative or regulatory body may use such mechanisms to institute control under color-of-law and to institute what amounts to taxation without representation, they would never and could never use them as an argument in the face of opposition from a citizen with the means to press the issue further than the State would accommodate in a court of law.  I'd certainly be interested in seeing a case or three involving such arguments on behalf of the State.

[Freeski]

Umm...Click It or Ticket (with a zero tolerance) is not based on physics, it's based on pure fascism!

Bingo!

[Freeski]

Amen.  I don't care how people try to justify malum prohibitum laws or regulatory nonsense affecting the private sector.  None of them are necessary and provide nothing beneficial to society, but rather provide a funding mechanism for the additional encroachment upon individual rights.

The seed of control is in our own heads.

[MonkeyPuppet]

The seed of control is in our own heads.

Just as ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law (just laws, that is)... ignorance also should not be used as an advantage against a People by a government.

I realize that's a rosey way of viewing the world, but that's exactly what those of us who manage to overcome the public fool system should defend despite the ignorance of the sheeple we lamentingly (at times) consider our brethren.

[Freeski]

Just as ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law (just laws, that is)... ignorance also should not be used as an advantage against a People by a government.

I realize that's a rosey way of viewing the world, but that's exactly what those of us who manage to overcome the public fool system should defend despite the ignorance of the sheeple we lamentingly (at times) consider our brethren.

I gotta look that word up.

[donnay]

Case in point:

10-year-old boy gets ticket for not wearing seat belt properly

Leander official says officer made mistake.

By Miguel Liscano

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

ROUND ROCK — On his way home Tuesday from Jim Plain Elementary School in Leander, fourth-grader Marshall May, sitting in the passenger seat of the family minivan, was ticketed for not wearing his seat belt properly.

Problem is, Texas law says a person must be at least 15 years old to commit such an offense. If a child isn't properly secured by a seat belt, the adult in the car would be at fault, according to the law. But Marshall's aunt, Ashley Arredondo, 19, who was driving, didn't receive a ticket.

"I was really scared, I could tell you that," Marshall said Thursday. "I didn't know what to do.

"He made me sign my signature, but I don't have a signature because I'm 10 years old."

Instead, Marshall printed his full name.

By Thursday, the story landed on Austin talk radio, and reporters began asking questions.

Interim Leander City Manager Robert Powers said Thursday that Marshall should not have been ticketed.

"I think it was just a mistake," Powers said. "It wasn't anything egregious or malicious."

The Police Department has taken procedural steps with the city's municipal court that will likely lead to the ticket's dismissal, Powers said. It will be up to the court to dismiss the ticket.

"I don't know if they requested it be dismissed or if they asked that it be taken into consideration, but that's certainly the intent," Powers said.

Marshall was in the passenger seat when he decided to stick his head out the window for some air, he said. As he stretched, the seat belt slipped up toward his neck and shoulder area, he said.

That's when the police officer pulled over the minivan driven by Arredondo.

After a brief discussion, the officer ticketed Marshall.

"He said: 'You were wearing your seat belt incorrectly. Sorry, but click it or ticket,'" Marshall said.

Continued...

[Kilika]

This is so stupid, I have the feeling that giving the kid a ticket was not the cops goal, but an excuse. I want to know what the kid's 19 year old aunt looks like. I suspect the cop pulled them over because of her, and the kid was an excuse.

[Nailer]

I'll add #6 for you freeski.

#6 - Because the vehicle won't shut up, until you put it on!

Seriously though, I do it for reason #1.   Those Nascar guys prove that if you're buckled in enough (albiet with a rollcage), you can survive 200 mph crashes.

If you read your owners manual you can disable the obnoxious door, seatbelt dinger/buzzer . the cops I know on the force say that is the first thing they do to their patrol cars.  it is a almost hilarious 10-15 step process they say.

example : trun radio on,buckle and unbuckle seatbelt 5 times  etc etc etc etc etc..

[Cryptvill]

Im glad I noticed this thread, I have been ranting about this to family/friends for a while and no one agreed with me. Instead, people would tell me to put the seat belt on, because it's the law.

Annoying...

I ended up getting stopped in total 3 times for not wearing a seatbelt (interestingly - I drove without a seatbelt in Florida for 3 years without one violation, I moved to Illinois and in my first 6 months, ended up getting 5 tickets - 2 of them for seatbelts, the other 3 very minor as well.), and the 2 violations were within 2 days of each other - causing me to have to give up my license.

Needless to say, when I moved to the city, I gave up my car / car insurance, and have been much more relaxed ever since - It was beginging to be a war zone while driving (along with the 2 random 80 dollar toll violations I received... for God knows what.)

[Kilika]

I moved to Illinois

That's the problem! You moved right into the Obama Crime Family territory.

[Freeski]

Keep in mind that we, taxpayers, are forced to pay for every single dime that is spent in the war on non-seatbelt-wearers. This includes a marketing team, advertising, a bureaucracy to handle the finance and operational stuff, henchmen to enforce it, collection agencies to chase the money, and so much more. We have to pay for this, and we're okay with that???

I guess we pay out of subconscious fear.

Wake up!