Seatbelts, everyone! (A Poll)

In My Humble Opinion
1

I got a “no seatbelt” ticket today ($65… damn it anyway) and it got me thinking. So here’s a few questions for all you happy, shiny people.

  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?

  2. Do you?

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?

3b) If no, why not?

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?

IMHO -

  1. Yep, as shown by my nice, new ticket.

  2. No, as shown by my nice, new ticket.

3b) Because seatbelts are only helpful in certain types of accidents. I figure I have a 50/50 chance no matter what. I know one person who died BECAUSE of a seatbelt, two people who would have died had they been wearing their seatbelts, and one person who, while wearing a seatbelt, was killed in a car accident. (Plus, they’re uncomfortable.) So I don’t wear mine.

  1. No. Seatbelts are supposed to minimize your chance of dying in a car accident. Who the heck cares if I die? (I mean, as far as law-makers and enforcers go?) That’s my business, not anyone else’s.

What say you, Straight Dopers?

2
  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?

Yes, there is

  1. Do you?

I absolutely do.

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?

I feel that it is safer. I don’t know anyone who was killed because they were wearing a seat belt. I do know quite a few who very likely would have, if they hadn’t been wearing one. This includes my sister who was in a car that rolled three times down a hill. Had she not been wearing a seat belt, she would very likely have been killed, or at least had some major injuries. As it was, the worst she got was some bad poison ivy, and that happened while she was crawling out of the totaled vehicle.
3b) If no, why not?

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?

I agree with it 100%, although, I do see a it is your life factor, but then, there are many laws that go against the, it is your life factor. Note, illegal drugs, so what if you die from an OD, it is your own fault, right. But then, that is a whole other debate.

3

1)Yes it is a law where I live

2)Yes I do

3a)Safer and

3b)‘Cause I drive like friggin’ maniac and when you take turns doin’ fifty it helps to be strapped in. Sliding across the car ain’t fun.

4)Wishy-washy about the law, but one counter-argument is that an accident where someone is hurt or killed costs money: traffic stopped even longer for ambulence, person may not be able to pay bills (which then can cost taxpayers and/or cause people’s insurance rates to go up).

4

Yeah, I think it is a state(ohio) law.

Yes, in fact, I don’t think I have every gone anywhere without it.

It is a habit since childhood so I do it without thinking about it really. However, it definitely makes me feel safer. I have been in two major highway accidents and both times I would have been in a lot of trouble had I not been wearing one. The first time I was in the passenger seat and a deer ran out in front of us(we were probably going 70-75). It went through the windshield in front of me and glass flew in my face. The front corner of the roof was caved in. If the belt wasn’t holding me back I would have ended up in that windshield as well. My second accident was during a huge snowstorm and it was my fault this time. Stop and go traffic on bare tires, I slid in to the back of a three car pile-up at 30. My car was totalled and I had a big bruise across my chest from the belt. I am pretty sure that was better than flying into the stearing wheel though. I am not sure if I like airbags, however. In my experience they hit you pretty hard, hurt(I was covered in burns the second time from the small explosives), and cause a lot of smoke that makes it hard to breathe.

I agree with it simply because I think wearing a belt is very simple to do and I really do think they help. I don’t hold a very strong opinion on this one though and would be happy to hear an opposing viewpoint on it.

5

That said (ha! First time I use this phrase. Learned it right here on SDMB), here are my answers to the poll:

  1. Yes
  2. Yes
  3. Both. I once was in a collision at a high rate of speed with no seatbelt on & my arms ached for a long time because I held on to the steering wheel very tightly. Otherwise, my head would have surely gone into the windshield and I might not be here today. (sniff sniff)
  4. Yes. See #3.
6

Three major car accidents:

One = whiplash, bruised boob/ribs. Totaled the car.

One = whiplash, badly bruised knees, bruised boobs/ribs, kept control of car and kept from going over very steep embankment. Car very badly totaled.

One= over two hundred stitches in my face and mouth, plastic surgery (minor) the next year to deal with the scar tissue, hairline cracks in my upper back, tip on one finger almost severed, piece of glass embedded in knee–did I mention the facial scars are permanent?–but no bruised ribs! Car demolished.

Guess in which accident I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt?

Based on this information, how do you think I would answer questions 3 and 4?

My understanding of the statistic–Silver Fire’s personal experiece notwithstanding, is that in most accidents there is less serious injury to those wearing seatbelts, and that death is caused by seatbelts in extremely fewer cases (airbags, I will admit, are a different matter).

Why should the government care? Because fatal and serious injury accidents have a cost–those police, firefighters and paramedics gets paid for scrapping you off the pavement, and the hospital/doctors/physical therapists get paid for your care, by your insurance company, (because I know you would carried adequate coverage), but too many payouts by insurance companies may hurt their bottom line, thus raising my premiums-- so there are financial costs. Others may be involved, heck, the accident my not be your fault, and then the other driver gets to live with the guilt have injured or killed you, and the police/fire/paramedics may also be upset by the cumulative of picking up the pieces, not to mention the pain your friends and family would feel is you died–so there are social costs.

Kind of went on a mini-rant there, all valid, I must say, but it must be time to go to bed!

7

1) Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt? yes

2) Do you? yes

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer? Myself because its a law my kids because its safer.

3b) If no, why not?

4) If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?
No I do not. If I have a death wish it should be my bussiness and my bussiness alone! I could go further into the whole freedom thing but I wont.

8

  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?
    A: Yes (front and back seats)

  2. Do you?
    A: Absolutely

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?
A: Safer, and combined with airbags, keeps you in the safest part of the car. Also helps you when headbutting things

3b) If no, why not?
A: N/A

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?
    A: Yes, I cringe when I see some of our feeble minded fellow citizens getting out of cars with junior on the knee and five kids jumping around in the back.

Fact: 15kg (avg 3yo) becomes 550kg baby elephant when car hits wall at 60kph.

9

  1. Yes there is a law here.

  2. Always

  3. Combo really. It’s safer and I don’t want to get the ticket. After having been in 3 accidents already (only one was my fault) and having worn my seatbelt in everyone I feel really lucky. I could have gotten some good bumps if I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt.

  4. I agree with it for the most part. But if someone is that dead set against wearing their seatbelt then I say let them go without it.

10

Chiming in from the UK…

  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?

Yep. And similar helmet law for motorcyclists.

  1. Do you?

Yep.

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?

Definitely the safety aspect. That said, I don’t believe it should be law. If someone doesn’t want to wear a belt/helmet, fine.

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?

See above. I’m all for educating the great unwashed about the safety aspects, but I like to take some responsibility for my life, and don’t appreciate being told what to do by the government.

11

~~Anticay wears the seat belt, not that it’s going to do much good…yes there is a law but I don’t know why I
wear it

12

Law? (as eBathory said) Yes.

Do I? Yes.

To feel safer? No, not at first. Honestly, I started to use the seatbelt to make the buzzer in my Dad’s car stop. It would buzz forever. (Dad just couldn’t hear it, but oh no! he wasn’t going deaf. We won’t go there today.) It was just easier to buckle up. I would unbuckle after a while. Then I just didn’t mind anymore, I stayed buckled.

When I drove my Mom’s car I had to buckle up. It had a vinyl bench seat. You’d slide from one side of the car to the other if you didn’t buckle in. Not real great for the driver. A sharp right could perk up a date though. (Again, we won’t go there today.)

Now, I buckle up mostly out of habit and partly out of setting a good example for my kids. Everyone buckles up in my car. It’s the Rule.

Do I agree with it? No, I hate the law. If you are mature enough to drive a car, you are mature enough to decide whether or not to buckle your seatbelt. If you can’t decide whether or not to buckle up on your own, maybe you shouldn’t be driving yourself.

I am all for carseat laws for kids. And I like how automakers are forced to put in good seatbelts and airbags and stuff.

I also think if you drive without a seatbelt, you should automatically be considered an organ donor.
-Rue.

13

Cite! (and if it’s uncomfortable, you’re not wearing it right.)

Silver Fire and Anticay, you’re ignoring all the injuries (minor to serious) that are avoided by wearing a seatbelt.

14

Rue de Day said…

Why? Because you are putting yourself at greater risk of injury?

Would you extend your argument to professional boxers? Mountain climbers? Smokers?

Just interested…

15
  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?
    Honestly, I’m not sure (I’m a Dane, living Germany.). It’s the law in Denmark.
  2. Do you?
    Always.
    3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?
    I’m quite convinced it’s safer.
  3. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?

Mixed emotions. I don’t much care for being told what to do, OTOH I dislike spending my tax money on hospitalizing people who thought they could handle a 50 kmh collision by holding on to the wheel.

And it’s certainly a motivation for car producers to put safe (and comfortable) seat belts in their cars.

S. Norman

16

Australian checking in …

  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt? **Yes, and for all passengers **

  2. Do you? ** Yes, and if you want a lift with me you either wear a belt or you’re walking. As a a secondary justification, in NSW, the driver will lose their license if two people aren’t wearing appropriate seat restraints **

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer? ** I feel safer, and am totally convinced all occupants are safer **

3b) If no, why not? ** N/A **

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it? **Emphatically **
17

I got into the seatbelt habit in driver’s ed, 30 years ago. I feel naked if I’m unbuckled in a car. It’s the law here, but that doesn’t matter to me - it’s saved my face and chest in a couple of minor situations. My daughter has been belted since we brought her home from the hospital. Now if I could just get my hubby into the habit, and get him to wear his helmet when on his motorcycle…

I have one sister who had 3 vehicles totalled from under her and only sustained minor injuries, and my youngest sister drove/rolled/totalled Mom’s car down an embankment and got out of it with a bruised ankle (and many months of grounding) - seatbelts are our friends.

18
  1. yep
  2. Uh huh
    3a) Safer
  3. Oh yeah
19
  1. Is it a law where you live that you have to wear your seatbelt?

Yes.

  1. Do you?

Yes. Also, I won’t drive if someone in my vehicle won’t wear their seatbelt. It may be your choice, but not in my car. You can go be a projectile in motion somewhere else.

3a) If yes, do you because it’s a law, or because you believe it makes you safer?

Both. If I didn’t agree with it, I would still do it because of the law. However, I do agree with it. See below.

  1. If you do have such a law, do you agree with it?

Yes, I do. In Canada, we have a public health system. You decide a seatbelt is optional, my taxes pay for your decision. As the public, we all pay for your hospitalization and all of your medical costs. If everyone in the province wears a seatbelt, then overall, injuries and severity of injuries due to car accidents drop. As far as I’m concerned, if you don’t want to take basic precautions, then pay for your own medical costs. Hell, scrape yourself off the pavement. I’m not asking people to wrap themselves in bubble wrap and not move anywhere all day. Just take basic precautions. Look both ways before you cross the street. Wear a seatbelt. Use a condom with that hooker. Whatever.

I also noticed this comment, and think that it might apply to me as well.

For the first two, are they wearing standard safety equipment? That’s all I’m asking for. As for smoking, that is one can of heated debate I’m not prepared to go into.

20

Xerxes, I think everyone should automatically be an organ donor. You have to sign your license to be taken off the list. Also, this system is horribly unfair and not workable. (Possible immoral too.) (OK, it is immoral.)

I threw it in my post (without aginizing over all the ways it could be taken) because, yes, they are taking unnecessary risk. Seatbelts (properly worn) save lives. You don’t wear yours and you kill yourself in your car, we get your guts. Maybe the next person will value them higher. Just take proper precautions people. (Like lolagranola said.)

Should the system be changed because I said so? No way.

(I still don’t thnk you should have to wear seatbelts. That’s in my post too.)
-Rue.