seat belt laws !!!!!!! argh!!!!

by heathen 47 Replies latest social current

• 

  Gwydion

  I grew up and learned to drive out west in the great plains states and seatbelts were not the law at that time. Kids would sit in the back of pick up trucks in the summer time, babes would sit on their mothers laps when the family went to town. When I moved east I was perplexed by the overwhelming seatbelt movement. I was not used to it so for years I just never wore it. Then the click it or ticket thing came up. I tried to wear a seatbelt but for some reason the strap does not come down across my shoulder like one would think or hope it would, it comes straight down across my face. I have tried to adjust it but to no avail it either is under my chin and cutting against the bottom of my jaw or flapping right in front of my face. Perhaps it is because I am shorter than your average joe, maybe it is because I am too simple to figure out how to adjust it properly. In any case it's a pain in the neck (literally). I don't wear it now unless I feel I am in a hostile environment (lots of cops around). In those cases I will strap the belt and pull the shoulder strap down under my arms so it doesn't interfere with my face. Sometimes I think the whole gag is just a way for them to squeeze more money out of the common folk afterall some people are stubborn and some people are forgetful and the politicians know this and see a gold mine. Senator Smith loves nothing more than taking 80 extra bucks from Trailer park Bob for forgetting to click it on his 5 minute midnight trip to the party store to pick up a pack of Marlboro Reds. 10000 trailer park Bob's a year is alot of money and Senator Smith thinks that he and Senator Jones need a raise for coming up with such a cool idea.
• 

  Lady Lee

  Gwydion

  There is a device that you can get that lowers the belt so that it is positioned correctly across your torso. Check at your dealership or even a store where they sell children's seat belts. They are often recommended for children (who are usually too big for a child seat but too small for the belt

  Your life could depend on it besides your pocketbook

  the links below have some samples

  http://www.safefit.com/2002/products/50002.htm

  http://www.safefit.com/2002/products/50099.htm

  You might really want to check with your dealership though. These might be better than nothing but they don't seem to be highly rated - for children - haven't found anything on a rating for adults
• 

  Cassiline

  You know, if there were not seat belt laws then when a person was injured or killed then that person or their relative would be suing the state because the law did not exist. If the law had been in extistance then I would not have been hurt or killed.

  Society today has become so litigious that the caution stickers on appliances such as on a hair dryer, " Do not use while sleeping", "Coffee hot" it's assinine.

  I believe the people who are saved especially young children far outweighs the inconvience that we may see in following the law.

  I always wear a seatbelt, after a watching a movie as a child about a woman who was not wearing a seatbelt and hit the stearing wheel then windsheild. It was a true story and the outcome of finally replacing her face with extensive plastic surgery ( I believe over 25 surgeries, if not more) and the use of her labia to replace her lips on her face was amazing.
• 

  LyinEyes

  Cassi I remember that movie,,,I think the woman in it , ended up marrying her doctor didnt she. I can't think of who the actress was.........she had blonde hair I think,,,,,,I know not a big help. ( Linda Pearle?)

  I watch alot of trauma shows on TLC and the Discovery Channel. Alot of the deaths , where people who were thrown from the car because of not wearing a seat belt.

  I wear mine, forgetting to put it back on if I am doing errands, but I still think it saves more lives,,,,but I am not sure it should be a law, where you can get a ticket for it , as an adult you should choose for yourself. But I do think it should be a law for children to be buckled in,,,,for their own good, and since they can not at a very young age decide to make that choice themselves.
• 

  J.P

  My Thoughts:

  Iam a firemedic,unfortunatly I go to to "accidents" everyday, atleast a small handfull of fatalities a week. It should come as no suprise those that are killied in crashes mostly were not wearing seatbelts.

  and it is a sad sad thing when we go to an accident, and see that someones mommy or daddy or son or daughter ect... has been violenlty ravaged by twisted metal, and have put themselves in a position to taste death by there own ideals that seatbelt laws are impeding on their rights. what about the rights of the loved ones left behind? waiting for their family to arrive back from work safe...... waiting for them to come home after a night on the town?......... what about the small kids who survive terrible accidents thanks to car seats.only to have there mom killed because she felt to constricted to wear a seatbelt? dont they have a right to have there mom or dad with them as they gow up in life?

  i think a very good comment was made on this topic, the laws are meant to protect us from ourselves.

  i myself find it very uncomfortable to feel that stiff nylon pressing against my collor bone.but, i know that if i get into an accident my chances of coming home to my wife or seeing my friends,or getting encouragment from all the people on this board are much greater..if iam wearing a seatbelt.

  good luck(can i say that) be safe
• 

  heathen

  I am all for being safe but what I don't need is to have some cop pulling me over because of something that should be for me to decide .I like hippikons idea . I don't even have a problem with the buckle the kids up or get a fine . I am an adult ,I don't need to be harrassed over something like this .
• 

  J.P

  your right heathen.

  ultimatly it should be left up to us after we have the facts.

  unfortunatly the police do have do get a quota in somtimes. but that is just there job. they have to "harass" us with law but also protect us with it. good luck amigo
• 

  Simon

  We've had compulsary seat-belt laws in the UK for many years now, extended to cover back-seat passsengers as well.

  After all the moaning and the fuss, the fact is you don't notice and it's second nature and it saves lives.

  I believe a number of children are killed each year in the US from air-bag inflations because they are much more powerful than in the UK having to stop an un-belted adult. Surely it's worth wearing a belt to save those kids?

  Now, if you don't have a belt on it feels something is wrong and missing.
• 

  Dansk

  October 2001 RoSPA Fact Sheets : Seat Belts Introduction Car occupants form 64% of all road casualties. In 2000, 206,799 people were killed or injured while travelling in cars. Of these, 181,093 (87%) were drivers or front seat passengers. Table 1 Car Occupant Casualties 2000 Driver Front Seat Passenger Rear Seat Passenger All Occupants* Killed 1,087 381 197 1,665 Serious 11,608 5,611 2,499 18,054 Slight 121,233 41,173 23,003 187,080 All 133,928 47,165 25,699 206,799 *including seating position unknown Data from ' Road Accidents Great Britain: 2000 - The Casualty Report' The Stationery Office ISBN 0-11-552303-0 Seat belts are intended to reduce the severity of injuries suffered by car occupants in road accidents. They are designed to retain the occupants in their seats, preventing them from being thrown about inside the vehicle or from being ejected through the windows. Seat belts are a very effective safety measure. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has estimated that front seat belts have saved thousands of lives and tens of thousands of serious injuries since their use became compulsory. They also estimate that rear seat belts have saved hundreds of lives and thousands of serious injuries since 1991. The History of Seat Belt Legislation Front Seat Belts In 1967, all new cars and those manufactured since 1st January 1965, were required to be fitted with front seat belts. In the 1970's national advertising campaigns were conducted to encourage people to voluntarily wear seat belts. The wearing rate subsequently rose to about 33 per cent. The first proposals for compulsory wearing of seat belts were made in 1973. However, it was not until 31st January 1983 that the use of seat belts in the front of cars became compulsory. Originally, this was for a trial period of three years, but the trial was successful and the compulsory wearing of front seat belts became permanent in 1986. Rear Seat Belts New cars have had to be fitted with rear seat belts since April 1987. On 1st September 1989, it became compulsory for children under the age of 14, travelling in the rear of a car to use seat belts or appropriate child restraints, if fitted. From the 1st July 1991 the law requiring rear seat belts to be used was extended to include adults in the rear seats of cars and taxis. As with children, this only applies if a seat belt is available. The use of seat belts by drivers and front seat passengers is very high, with over 90% of people in the front of cars wearing seat belts. Unfortunately, the use of seat belts in the rear of cars is much lower. Surveys have also shown that a substantial proportion of parents do not use child restraints when transporting their children and many of the child seats that are used are incorrectly fitted. The Law Front Seats Drivers and front seat passengers in cars must wear a seat belt, unless they have a medical exemption certificate. Children under three years of age must be restrained in a child seat suitable for their age (see page 5). Children over the age of three years may use any type of child restraint. It is the legal responsibility of the driver to ensure that front seat passengers under the age of 14 years, are wearing seat belts. Rear Seats Children under the age of 14, travelling in the rear of a car which has appropriate restraints, must use those restraints (unless they have a medical exemption certificate). Children under 1 year old may be carried in a carrycot, provided the carrycot is restrained by straps. Children under 12 years and under 150cm (4' 11") in height travelling in cars must use a restraint, if a suitable one is available anywhere in the vehicle. In other words, if rear seat belts are not fitted, but there is a suitable restraint available in the front seat, then they must sit in the front seat and use that restraint. It is the legal responsibility of the driver to ensure that passengers under the age of 14 years are wearing seat belts. However, children are not required to be restrained in preference to adults. Adults travelling in the rear of a car must also use seat belts, if they are fitted. It is the responsibility of the adult passenger (not the driver) to ensure that they are using the seat belt. Lap Belts Concern has been expressed at the use of lap belts, which are generally located in the centre of the backseat in the majority of cars. Although three-point seat belts are best, wearing a lap belt is far better than wearing no seat belt at all, because the greatest risk of injury to car occupants in an accident comes from being thrown about inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. The lap belt should go over the pelvis (not the soft stomach area) and fit as tightly as possible. Most car manufacturers now fit at least some of their range with a three-point seat belt in the centre of the rear seat. Seat belt Wearing in Pregnancy All pregnant women must wear seat belts by law when travelling in cars. This applies to both front and back seats and pregnancy does not in itself provide exemption from the law. Medical research has shown that the safest way to wear a seat belt is to place the shoulder strap between the breasts (over the breastbone) and the lap belt flat on the thighs, fitting comfortably beneath the enlarged abdomen. In this way the forces applied in a sudden impact can be absorbed by the body's frame. It is inadvisable to wear 'Lap-Only-Belts' as opposed to lap and diagonal belts as they have been shown to cause grave injuries to unborn children in the event of sudden deceleration. Mother and unborn child are both safer in a collision if a lap and diagonal seat belt is being worn correctly. Seat belts in Minibuses and Coaches Minibuses and coaches carrying three or more children on an organised trip must be fitted with seat belts. The law permits either three-point belts or lap belts. Minibuses- Front Seats Passengers sitting in the front seats, and any exposed seat, must use the seat belts that are provided. If children are sitting in these seats, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure that: children under 3 years of age use an appropriate child restraint children aged between 3 and 11 year, and under 1.5 metres tall use an appropriate child restraint if available, or if not available, wear the seat belt. children aged 12 and 13 years (and younger children who are 1.5 metres or taller) use the seat belt. Children aged 14 years or more sitting in the front must wear a seat belt and they are responsible for doing so. Smaller Minibuses - Rear Seats Passengers sitting in the rear of minibuses that have an unladen weight of 2,540 kg or less must wear the seat belts that are provided. It is the drivers responsibility to ensure that: children under 3 years of age use an appropriate child restraint children aged between 3 and 11 years, under 1.5 metres tall use an appropriate child restraint if available, or if not available, wear the seat belt. children aged 12 and 13 years (and younger children who are 1.5 metres or taller) use the seat belt. Children aged 14 years or more sitting in the front must wear a seat belt and they are responsible for doing so. Larger Minibuses - Rear Seats The law does not require passengers in the rear of larger minibuses (over 2,540 kg unladen weight) or in coaches to wear seat belts. However, RoSPA strongly advises that where seat belts are fitted, they are worn for all journeys by all passengers. Coaches Passengers sitting in seats that are in line with, or in front of, the driver (excluding seats on an upper deck) must use seat belts that are fitted. The law does not require passengers using other seats in coaches to wear seat belts. However, RoSPA strongly advises that where seat belts are fitted, they are worn. CHILD RESTRAINTS Child restraints are divided into categories, according to the weight of the children for which they are suitable. These correspond broadly to different age groups, but it is the weight of the child that is most important when deciding what type of child restraint to use. All child restraints must conform to either a British Standard or a European Standard. TYPE OF RESTRAINT WEIGHT/AGE OF CHILD STANDARD 1 Rearward-facing Baby Carriers 2 From birth to 6-9 months Up to 10kg (22 lbs) BS AU 202 or BS AU 202a Carrycot with Restraining Straps 3 From birth to 6-9 months Up to 10kg (22 lbs) BS AU 186 or BS AU 186a Forward-facing child seat From 9 months - 4 years 9 - 18 kgs (20 - 40 lbs) BS 3254 Forward-facing child seat/ booster seat From 4 - 6 years15 - 25 kgs (22 - 55 lbs) BS 3254 Booster Cushions From 6 - 11 years 22 - 36 kgs (48 - 79 lbs) BS AU 185 NOTES 1 ECE R44.03 is a European Standard that covers all types of restraint and may be used instead of the British Standards quoted above. 2 Never place a rearward facing baby seat on the front passenger seat if a passenger airbag is fitted. As it inflates, the airbag would impact against the rear of the child seat and throw it and the baby forward at considerable speed. 3 Carrycots provide much less protection than rearward-facing baby carriers as they are not designed to withstand impact forces. They can only be used in the rear of a car. A SUMMARY OF THE MAIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WEARING SEAT BELTS. FRONT SEAT REAR SEAT WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY DRIVER Must be worn if fitted - Driver CHILD UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE Appropriate child restraint must be worn Appropriate child restraint must be worn if available Driver CHILD AGED 3 to 11 and under, 1.5metres (about 5 feet) in height Appropriate child restraint must be worn if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn Appropriate child restraint must be worn if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn if available Driver CHILD AGED 12 or 13 or younger child 1.5metres or more in height Adult seat belt must be worn if available Adult seat belt must be worn if available Driver PASSENGERS over the age of 14 Must be worn if available Must be worn if available Passenger Reproduced from 'The Highway Code' p19, 1999. ISBN 0-11-551977-7
• 

  Abaddon

  I think seatbelt and helmet laws are one place where natural selection can still play a role. Anyone stupid enough not to wear one should be given every opportunity to express their freedom and not pass their genes on to the next generation.

  Oh, airbags in the US are bigger, as they are designed to cope with people not wearing seatbelts. Someone in the rear seat of a car can kill a safely belted and airbaged front seat passenger if they don't have a seat belt on, just by hitting the back of the seat in fromt hard enough.