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

[curia-regis.livejournal.com]

It puzzled me when I first found out that seatbelts were an issue of "personal choice". I mean, it's against the law here to go without a seatbelt and it's almost instinct for me to buckle up when I'm in a car. I feel weird when I'm in buses without seatbelts.

[alienor77310.livejournal.com]

It's instinctive for me to put on a seatbelt when I sit in a car. I just wish whoever designs the things would take into account women with boobs. I have to reposition mine every few minutes or it cuts into my throat - not a good solution in case of a crash.

[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:

[gracilejenn.livejournal.com]

I too, am pro-seatbelt. I have my kids convinced that the car actually won't start unless everyone has their belt on. I saw that video earlier today, and oh, I'm so glad the baby is all right.

[maevemist.livejournal.com]

I am a HUGE selbelt fan. I have only ever had one bad car accident and at the time I was a baby. In those days a baby travelled in their bassinet and cars did not have seat belts in the back seat, (as you mentioned) but the accident shook my mum badly enough that her car does not move without all seatbelts fastened nor does mine.

Just this evening my son had a panic attack because he was wearing wizard robes and he couldn't get his belt done up. We happily waited for him to remove the robes and calm down enough to get his belt on before we moved anywhere.

I hate not having belts on buses and that Taxi drivers do not wear them or more to the point that they do not HAVE to wear them.

Click Clack Front and Back People.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

YIKES! OMG ... just ... OMG.

I actually had a friend who, in high school, did die because he was trapped inside his Jeep by a seatbelt. The passenger was flung free of the vehicle while he remained inside as it flipped over and over. His friend escaped with only a sprained wrist, scratches & bruises.

Having said that, it's the one instance I know to be true. AND it speaks to the safety (or lack thereof) of Jeeps more than seatbelts, since in any vehicle with a roof - or with strong enough support beams surrounding him - he would not have been crushed in such a manner. AND his friend might just as easily have been crushed by the flipping vehicle.

So ... not disagreeing with you about their safety benefits, except to say that it has happened. But the number of people saved by seatbelts far outweighs the one I'm aware of that died.

But, on a final note, I do believe it's personal choice. I don't believe you should be penalised for not wearing one. If you're dumb enough not to, so be it. Though parents should be accountable if their kids aren't wearing one, because that's no longer their OWN safety. For the record, I wear mine, as do my kids. And, as far as I'm aware, so does everyone else I know.

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

I too am very pro-seatbelt. I'm also pro-child safety seat up to a ridiculous age (there are some states in this country that don't require parents to put their children in booster seats once they're past actual car seat age/weight which is just ridiculous IMO). It's complete instinct for me to put on my seatbelt when I get in the car. My car actually yells (ok, it doesn't really yell, but makes an obnoxious beeping noise) if the driver and front seat passenger are in the car and the car is moving and their seatbelts aren't on.

I did know a girl in high school though, who refused to wear a seatbelt ever. Her reason was that her brother had been killed in a car accident, and according to her, the injuries that killed him were caused BY the seatbelt he was wearing. I hated to doubt her on that, but if that was the case, those killed by their seatbelt has to be such a small number in comparison to those killed by NOT wearing their seatbelt, that I see no point in risking one's life that way.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

I will take your word on the film.

I cannot bring myself to watch it. Since becoming a mummy I get very tearful at the thought of hurt children.

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

Though it may break a few hearts, Jimmy Dean really was batting for the other side. Amazing story. Thanks

Peace,
Bubba

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

I can't even start the car before I've locked the seatbelt. It's so ingrained, I even do it when I just change parking spaces.

[tray-la-la.livejournal.com]

omg, that video is horrifying! i can't believe the train was going slow enough that the impact alone didn't kill the baby. *shudders*

i am so with you on the seatbelt front. i am a HUGE advocate and enforcer of wearing your seatbelts in taxis too. i mean, they're still cars, for fuck's sake, and cab drivers are notoriously wild behind the wheel. admittedly, i didn't always abide by the cab = car = duh, wear seatbelt maxim, but after two accidents in cabs, i am religious about it.

[thenotoriousso4.livejournal.com]

I can't even count the number of times that seatbelts have saved my life and the lives of those I love, and that's why my car never starts unless everyone is fastened in.

And for those who worry, I always have one of these handy:



It'll cut your seatbelt, break your window, and even has a nifty flashlight built right in.

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

Fastening your seatbelts is mandatarory in Germany for the two people in the front seats. I don't know about the back seats.

I always, ALWAYS wear one. My dad hardly ever does. My mom does, but only after she's already driven a bit and then puts it on in the most hazardous way while she keeps driving. It drives me nuts, but I've tried to change that habit of hers for years and had no success.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

When I was an insurance defense lawyer, I saw so many accidents in which the only survivors wore seatbelts. It made a believer out of me, thought I'm still prone to not putting mine on until I back out of a parking space.

Growing up, we never wore seatbelts when my father was driving (but my mother insisted on them).

[adores-draco.livejournal.com]

A man told me years ago that he had been thrown through a windscreen. Not only once but twice. I told him - nicely and politely *cough* - that the first time might have been carelessness but the second time was pure stupidity.

Seatbelts good. Not seatbelts bad. *nods*

[ldydark1.livejournal.com]

(buckles up)This post had major impact on me. Thank you for doing so.