SEATBELTS!

[blamebrampton]

I believe in seatbelts. I believe in them with a profound and unshakeable faith. Well, it's less of a belief as such and more of a tried and tested result from an extensive data set including a few unfortunate control experiments. My father's driving was eccentric at best, and while I am the most law-abiding cyclist in the world, I foolishly kept cycling when I moved to Sydney, so was able to experience first hand and several times that a human body can fly quite well, it's just the landings we suck at.

Here's another reason to believe in seatbelts. Yesterday in Melbourne a young mother lost grip on her pushchair/stroller for a moment, and it rolled away from her quickly, infant inside. No one could catch it before it fell onto the tracks, and the pushchair and child were both hit by a train. The baby boy, who was securely held in with his seatbelt, was pushed along upside down for over 30m, but is fine save for a bump on his head. Be warned that the video is a bit heart in mouth.

Seriously, seatbelts.

Princess Diana would still be alive, James Dean would probably be a grandfather and tens of thousands of people who die every year would not. I do not understand people who make it an 'issue' of 'personal choice'. Seatbelts do not trap people in wrecks. I've been in cars upside down and a friend was in one in the water. Because we'd been wearing seatbelts, we both were in excellent condition at the end of the accidents we were in, and we were easily able to escape our cars, having undone our seatbelts. If you're that worried, keep a Swiss Army knife in your pocket to slash a belt post-accident.

I love seatbelts. And sunblock, too, but it already has enough champions.

Comments

[mummimamma.livejournal.com]

I watched that film, aand oh, dear. Perhaps a belt between mother and pram would be an idea too?

As for personal anecdotes; If it wasn't for seatbelts I wouldn't have had a mother (or an ex-stepfather) now. Whenever I get into a car I grasp for the seatbelt, although here in Nroway it isn't a choice, it is mandatory. I have quarreled with a lot of taxi drivers in the Middle East who say that when I wear a seatbelt I doubt their driving skille. Which I do by the way.

By the way, this is the Norwegian commercial reminding us to fasten the seatbelts - I kind of like it:

[raitala.livejournal.com]

That advert is really quite lovely!

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

It's really is, isn't it! And the pics are out on boards along the roads as well. Nice reminders. Though the initial reports were that the campaign wasn't too successful, because the pictures appealed to a slightly more mature audience (late 20s-30s) who were already buckling up, rather than the young and stupid reckless. Still, it can't hurt!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes! They have signs and announcements in Australia reminding people to always hold onto their strollers, I think this one incident will do more good than all the notices in making people actually do so.

I do think that mandatory belts are by far the best idea; most of the countries I have lived in have similar laws and they very simply save lives. But yes, I have had people (usually men) insist it is an insult to buckle up, too, and I suspect your response is the one I will use from now on!

That commercial is beautiful and eloquent, who needs a better reason?