# Do you always wear your seatbelt in a car on public property? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347 "2015-06-01T15:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/121 "2015-06-08T16:47:57Z")
Also, it should sit on your shoulder, not your neck. If it rests on your neck, you should adjust it so it doesn’t. I always wear a seatbelt. I hate when it gets into “lock” mode, but have learned how to release that in all the cars I regularly use. Other than that, never had a problem. You are better positioned to escape from that burning car if your head hasn’t been slammed into something, stunning you, fwiw. Also, if the seatbelt has lots of slack in it, it won’t work properly, and could hurt you in a crash. You want it moderately tight across your hips and shoulders. (Not your waist or neck) ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/122 "2015-06-08T18:42:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It shouldn’t lock unless you’re making jerking movements. Normal body movements and the belt moves with you. At least that’s how it is on every car I’ve driven. With cars made within the last twenty years or so, there is a way to switch back and forth between the emergency locking mode (where only sudden jerks lock the belt) and automatic locking mode (where the belt remains locked.) Emergency locking mode is the default. Maybe I’m a jerk when I drive 😃 > [@kayaker](#): > > Dude, if your seatbelt stops you from wiggling your legs, you are either suffering from a deformity of some sort (if so, my apologies) or you aren’t wearing it right. But seriously, seat belts limit some movement. Its not enough for most people to consider it an issue, but I don’t like the feeling of being trapped at all. Because the mechanism in seat belts always tries to coil the belt back, eventually it locks at the point where its the tightest for me. My legs are normal, but occasionally I’ve had to bend over to reach for something in the back seat or in front the passenger seat and found that the belt locked and I can’t reach it. I just can’t stand that > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Also, it should sit on your shoulder, not your neck. If it rests on your neck, you should adjust it so it doesn’t. Well it touches the neck, doesn’t rest on it. And if I move at all, it may brush my neck, which I hate. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > You are better positioned to escape from that burning car if your head hasn’t been slammed into something, stunning you, fwiw. Also, if the seatbelt has lots of slack in it, it won’t work properly, and could hurt you in a crash. You want it moderately tight across your hips and shoulders. (Not your waist or neck) I can’t stand it moderately tight at all, or touching me. I still feel trapped ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/123 "2015-06-09T00:29:15Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > A lot of cabbies… :rolleyes: A couple times I even had the cabbie get pissy when I buckled up: “what, you don’t trust me?” “For starters, I don’t trust every other driver”. Both times, they were the kind of zigzagging asshole that gives cabbies worldwide a bad name. I very rarely use cabs, but such occasions are about the only times I might not put the seatbelt on. It’s largely a function of being so rarely in the back seat of a car that it makes me forget my usual practice of always using the belts when in the driver’s or front passenger seat. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/124 "2015-06-09T00:57:34Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Maybe I’m a jerk when I drive 😃 > > But seriously, seat belts limit some movement. Its not enough for most people to consider it an issue, but I don’t like the feeling of being trapped at all. Because the mechanism in seat belts always tries to coil the belt back, eventually it locks at the point where its the tightest for me. My legs are normal, but occasionally I’ve had to bend over to reach for something in the back seat or in front the passenger seat The only vehicle I’ve had a problem with this locking mechanism was my 1976 Chevy Pick-up. And It was really only an issue when I was off road with it really bouncing around. It would ratchet in on every bounce. That was 40 year old tech. And was annoying. Perhaps something is wrong with the seat belt. What year is your car Yog? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/125 "2015-06-09T17:23:38Z")
I don’t think anything’s wrong with it, I think that locking function is there by design. I have a 2003 Camry, the Yog-mobile as I call it. But I’ve been in passenger seats with friends and the seat belt does the same thing and I hate it. I always pull a little bit more slack so if it locks, I have more room. Sometimes instead of my waist, I run the lower half around my knees so my waist is unencumbered ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/126 "2015-06-09T18:47:22Z")
Well, that would explain how it encumbers your legs. But that seems to BOTH make it more of an encumbrance and also make it significantly less effective in a crash. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/127 "2015-06-10T00:28:34Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t think anything’s wrong with it, I think that locking function is there by design. I have a 2003 Camry, the Yog-mobile as I call it. But I’ve been in passenger seats with friends and the seat belt does the same thing and I hate it. I always pull a little bit more slack so if it locks, I have more room. Sometimes instead of my waist, I run the lower half around my knees so my waist is unencumbered You sure you haven’t locked it by accident? [See here on how to lock and disengage the “automatic lock mode.”](https://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/installation-tricks/lockingthebelt/) By default it should be in “emergency mode,” where it only locks during sudden stops and movements. But if you’ve switched it to automatic mode, you need to disengage it. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/128 "2015-06-11T16:57:04Z")
I’m sure, really. I’m sorry about the seat belt thing, I just really really really dislike it. Its like one of those odd pet peeves that people have. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347/129 "2015-06-12T18:57:18Z")
Even for very short distances, I feel very vulnerable if I’m not wearing my seatbelt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-always-wear-your-seatbelt-in-a-car-on-public-property/721347.md?page=6)