OT - use seatbelts when driving a car

[Lucas]

In a pause between two matches of WC soccer I decided to go to my favourite cafe for dinner. Now I am in a small town with undersized traffic. So I do not use seatbelts. I stopped because a gypsy wanted to cross a road. At the moment some blond girl at Ford Fiesta did not use hers brakes. It was not very big shot, but destroyed back of my car and almost broke my backbone. There are more dangerous things than gambling.

[Mudcat]

Jayzuz. I hope everything is alright Lucas. Hang in there.

I wholeheatedly agree with your message about seatbelts.

[bigboydan]

i don't know if there are seat belt laws where you guys are from. but, there are around here. although, i never bother wearing one.

i think wearing a seat belt should be a persons choice, not a law like alot of states have nowadays.

[Lucas]

I ve a little headache but I am going to move to another city in 4 days and I have a broken car. But those stories everytime show the oddness of life - just one stupid moment and someone feels like at Amores perros movie.

[Willie Bee]

i think wearing a seat belt should be a persons choice, not a law like alot of states have nowadays.

I agree. It's God's way of weeding out the idiots.

[Lucas]

I agree - it should be a choice, but liberal world is just utopia. And I must only say - law or not... it is not bad to use it.

[Lucas]

I agree. It's God's way of weeding out the idiots.

Thanks!

[mad]

Always wear one. Saved my life, that's for damn sure. Such a simple thing to do too.

[Mudcat]

Maybe it's because we have public health care that I am in favor of our mandatory seatbelt laws. Injuries to people not wearing seatbelts are much more serious and expensive and, if they can't take that simple precaution, I don't feel I should have to pay for them. Same with motorcycle helmet laws. I'm in favor of them.

If people want to risk the more serious injury, I may question the thinking but it's really none of my business. But our health care system makes the cost my business.

From a personal choice standpoint, the reason I want to wear a seatbelt is exactly because of what Lucas describes. I can do everything right but all it takes is one Fruit Loop to come along and turn everything upside down.

In my experience, there are no shortage of Fruit Loops out there.

[Willie Bee]

Thanks!

No offense intended, Lucas. But the fact my brother-in-law wasn't wearing his a little more than 19 years ago, he was killed. Plain and simple, wearing a seatbelt would have saved his life. Sure, it was his decision. I'm all in favor of people making their own decisions. But the end result was that my sister, her two children and the rest of the family were left to deal with the aftermath of that decision, financially and emotionally.

[Lucas]

No offense intended, Lucas. But the fact my brother-in-law wasn't wearing his a little more than 19 years ago, he was killed. Plain and simple, wearing a seatbelt would have saved his life. Sure, it was his decision. I'm all in favor of people making their own decisions. But the end result was that my sister, her two children and the rest of the family were left to deal with the aftermath of that decision, financially and emotionally.

You were right - sometimes I have idiotic symptoms, everyone has. But I can take the liberty of doing such things, because I am rather alone. My todays decision was being lazy - but be killed because of laziness is really very stupid death.

Sorry to hear what happened to your family. That is really problem when someone decides to kill himself and other people depend on him. Few years ago I decided to jump from 4th floor. It was hard to survive it, but probably nothing compared with feelings of my ex-wife.

[isetcap]

Saved my life, too. Lucas, you are one of my favorites here. I hope you recover completely and always wear the belts.

[Lucas]

Thanks iset! I think I will.

[scottyy11]

i agree with dan seatbelts should be upto the individual..............and regardless i dont think fines and points are a good use of police time.......and mudcat brings up the point of public healthcare which could be true but if i die cause i'm not wearing a seatbelt as oppossed to the seatbelt saving me but leaving me wheel chair bound....what case saves the public the most money? rather morbid but just a thought to ponder

[Mudcat]

and mudcat brings up the point of public healthcare which could be true but if i die cause i'm not wearing a seatbelt as oppossed to the seatbelt saving me but leaving me wheel chair bound....what case saves the public the most money? rather morbid but just a thought to ponder

I'm probably going to sound like an unbearable know-it-all here but I have seen and heard this topic discussed in detail.

Bottom line: not wearing seatbelts costs a ton more in the long run - both in terms of dollars and pain. You can find exceptions like the case you mentioned. People who don't like to wear seatbelts will rationalize, "What if the car is on fire and the seatbelt won't release - then wearing a seatbelt will kill me." But the statistics are overwhelming that not wearing seatbelts is MUCH more likely to lead to great pain and suffering, as well as being more of a burden on the healthcare system.

[scottyy11]

your probably right but people do stuff to themselves everyday in the choices and the lifestyle they live that cost the public healthcare system alot more money than seatbelts. I just don't know were you draw the line once you start to use this angle to justify rule of law as to government intervention..........as once they start they just keep tightening the screws. If your on this side of seatbelts for public healthcare reasons should we make smoking illegal i mean it cost public healthcare probably 1000x more than lack of seatbelt use.........I just dont buy the public healthcare angle its just a way for government to get more control of us and a way to justify more laws to do so.

[clonecat]

I use my seatbelt all the time, BUT it should be up to the individual, same as smoking cigarettes, another thing I shy away from, and gambling. Government is needed, but tries to do too much.

[onlooker]

Sorry to hear that Lucas, I hope you recover quickly.

I wear mine once in awhile. I mostly forget, but I always wear it on the highway/freeway. So many idiots going over 65mph, is to me, not safe.

I will teach my kid to wear his seatbelt, so he grows up knowing that is something your suppost to do to be safe while driving.

Vehicles are much safer these days now to, with the airbags and better seat belts. Im glad they started putting shoulder straps in the backseats. That lap strap was could cause just as much problems as not wearing it.

[tacomax]

I agree. It's God's way of weeding out the idiots.

[Willie Bee]

I wear mine once in awhile. I mostly forget, but I always wear it on the highway/freeway. So many idiots going over 65mph, is to me, not safe.

Sixty-five?! You better be in the slow lane anywhere within 150 miles of Houston if you're only doing 65 on a freeway. Even out here people do 75-80 in the fog on winding Hill Country roads. And it's not just the drivers who are in a hurry to get to the next red light out here since there's plenty of deer to negotiate. Never understood the logic behind being in a rush to get somewhere 37 seconds faster.

[onlooker]

Sixty-five?! You better be in the slow lane anywhere within 150 miles of Houston if you're only doing 65 on a freeway. Even out here people do 75-80 in the fog on winding Hill Country roads. And it's not just the drivers who are in a hurry to get to the next red light out here since there's plenty of deer to negotiate. Never understood the logic behind being in a rush to get somewhere 37 seconds faster.

65 is the speed limit, not saying thats what people drive. Just saying getting on a highway with a bunch of idiots going over that is almost suicide.

[tacomax]

Never understood the logic of not wearing a seat-belt either.

[Mudcat]

your probably right but people do stuff to themselves everyday in the choices and the lifestyle they live that cost the public healthcare system alot more money than seatbelts. I just don't know were you draw the line once you start to use this angle to justify rule of law as to government intervention..........as once they start they just keep tightening the screws. If your on this side of seatbelts for public healthcare reasons should we make smoking illegal i mean it cost public healthcare probably 1000x more than lack of seatbelt use.........I just dont buy the public healthcare angle its just a way for government to get more control of us and a way to justify more laws to do so.

I hear ya. It is a complicated issue with slippery slopes in all directions.

The main thing is, Lucas is okay!

[natrass]

Actually, just the last two days Ive stopped wearing one just for the little trip to the shops ... might only pass three cars and its three minutes.

Its against the law here and its one of those things (maybe like smoking) where I know its stupid but I just cant be arsed for a three minute journey.

But Lucas' post is the true cost.

As for individual choice, im with mudcat here.

If you want wear a red shirt or a green one, work as a teacher or a plumber, drive a ford or a toyaota, live in London or Inverness, etc ... these are my understanding of free choice.

When you get into a car it is different. There are a whole load of social consequences dependent on how you drive. There is probably nothing else you regularly do that can have such drastic consequences.

If you cant be bothered to wear a seatbelt then dont drive. I know I am wrong not to even for the little journey.

Its illegal in the UK and quite rightlly too.

Glad you're OK Lucas. Suprised to hear there are still gypsies in London though, I thought theyd all moved out to Kent.

[Mudcat]

I've gotten to the point where I feel weird and unsettled if I don't have a seatbelt on. Uncomfortable. It's an ingrained habit.

Not a bad thing.

[Lucas]

Suprised to hear there are still gypsies in London though, I thought theyd all moved out to Kent.

Those gypsies are "yours" or the immigrants from eastern Europe?

[totobernal]

I have a car that makes an awful noise if i dont have the seatbelt on.. it stops when i wear the seatbelt

[Terris]

its ok to forget getting that belt wraped...but doing it like "seat belts who cares" is fucking stupid dumbass behaviour...
man look at all those deadly accidents happening, Ben R. is the same dumbass for driving without a helmet.
What a fucking moron...

[tacomax]

I have a car that makes an awful noise if i dont have the seatbelt on..

Would that be your wife?

[totobernal]

Would that be your wife?

lol....
gf

[JoshW]

If you value your life and more importantly health, is a no brainer really. Don't wait until an accident to you or family to do it.

[Illusion]

I have seen too many friends and family get hurt, so I always wear mine.