To help pass the time on the road, I have been looking at drivers/passangers in cars next to me if they are wearing seatbelts, It is interesting to see the difference between neighborhoods and ethnic backrounds to see who's got them on, \
Granted where I live it is the law to wear one,
And I do.
About 20 years ago I was driving a VW beetle and was going about 40 MPH and another car, (Cutlass Calas) 4 door went through a red light in a blind intersection and I broadsided them, They were going fast enough to slide sideways and then flip their car on a 4" curb, I was wearing my seatbelt and walked away with a couple of stitches above my eye, (wing window frame) and two sore knees from the underside of the steel dash.
The other cars driver was in the hospital for a couple of days with internal injuries (no seat belt)
The 72 Beetle was totaled as well as the much heavier Cutlass.
I was glad I was wearing a seatbelt then and still wear one all the time while driving now.
What about you and your loved ones???
PS, My finding show that when driving near/in the lesser neighborhoods of Philadelphia PA, About 25% dont wear them.
Peter
trying to edit to
Yes I do wear one\
No I do not wear one/
Cant figure out how to.
Hope you know what I mean

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

It was part of our regimen on the job (I worked for the world's largest package delivery corporation and in the shop there) that if the wheels rolled on the pavement at all, you better have your seat belt on. Safety managers were always spying on us for noncompliance. And I mean if you moved a vehicle two feet in a service bay you had to have it on. First thing I now do when getting into a car. Conditioning.

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Lost in Penn's Woods

I have worn my seat belt since I started driving in 1969. If the wheels are turning, the belt is on.

I wear the lap belt because I think it's a good idea. I wear the shoulder strap because I'll get a ticket if I don't.

I figure the odds of an accident where the seat belt is a liablility is much less then the odds of an accident where the seat belt helps. Of course getting a ticket for not wearing one certainly helps too. I grew up not wearing them, but started one day (I don't really remember why) and have done it since.

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J.D. Roy

My Dad Bought a new '66 F100 when I was a kid.and shortly after put his own seatbelts in.So ever since there have been seatbelts I've been wearing them.I feel naked without.
Thanks Dad. You saved my life more than once.
Dad's almost 80 now and still drives that truck today.

Oh yeah, nearly all the time.

I'm a Jeeper. They roll over and other bad things. We'd been wearing them even before we bought the first jeep, but that settled it. Once you start, or see what happens to folks even in a low speed roll, you become a true believer.

There is an exception I make. When we're working with a jeep, and climbing in and out constantly, as in stretching fence, or pulling logs around, sometimes I don't. Its just too much trouble when I'm moving the thing 5 or 10 feet on flat ground. That's pretty much a habit I've gotten into and so have my other buddies I work/play with.

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Dick Burg

We have an uncle who won't put it on. We won't move the vehicle until he does. When he is in the back seat, we tell him we don't want to be killed by his 280-pound body crushing us to death in the front seat.

PS - my husband's mother was killed in a car accident when the vehicle she, her cousin, and a friend were in that was hit by a drunk driver in 1955. His mother was found under the front seat. My husband was 4 months old at the time.

I was a Highway Patrolman for 10 years. Nuff sed.

Better part of 20 years doing X-rays in a trauma hospital...if a car doesn't have seat belts, I won't ride in it. Never in a moving car/truck without one on.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

At a time in my life I drove a fork lift at
work. They would only go 7-1/2 MPH. One night
I hit a bay pole from then on I wore a seat belt. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

All the time! It's the law in my state. It makes sense to me!

I wear one because I can't get that darn ding-ding-ding alarm to stop til I buckle up.

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Regards,
Windjammer

I started wearing them all the time when it became mandatory on military bases many years ago. I don't even think about it now, it's the first thing I do when I get in a vehicle. Until recently, my state didn't require back seat passengers to wear them, but I required it.

i wear mine for safety plus its the law and windshields are sooooooo expensive. also made sure since my kids were very young that the key dont go into the ignition until all seat belts are on.

My Dad had a consulting company way back when that did some of the very first crash dummy instrumentation. In order to calibrate the instruments there was quite a bit of research that went into automotive crash injuries including X-rays of the deceased. To this day I'll never forget the X-ray of some poor soul that had either a cigarette lighter or a radio knob stuffed right in the middle of his/her cranium where undisturbed brain matter was supposed to be. This made a BIG impression (no pun intended) on me as a teenaged driver.

Brian~

I've been in 3 wrecks where a seatbelt has saved my bacon. The first was a multiple roll over, the roof of the car was shorn away and I ended up down-side-up pinned in the wreckage, I laid down in the seat when I saw it coming and had a lap belt on, I walked out with a scraped up arm. Second was a near head on collision, I was a passenger and felt my body leave the seat before the slack tension thingy kicked in, I thought my eyes were coming out the sockets from the impact. The third was turn over in a ditch in a bucket truck, brakes went out going downhill, I made it through an intersection flashing my lights and blowing the horn, thankfully traffic stopped in time and I went through a red light at around 70 mph. I went up the hill on the other side and put it in the ditch, the trencher I was towing flipped over and drug the truck over with it. I would have been tossed violently to the far side of the cab if I had not been wearing it.
You bet I put it on each time i get in car and won't take anyone anywhere who won't.
Folks who don't are fools, you read about them every day.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I always wear my seat belt and always have. If the vehicle is moving, the belt is on.
I also always wear the best helmet I can get when riding my motorcycle and a bicycle helmet when on the bicycle.
Why leave safety to chance?

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Have mixed feelings about wearing seatbelts. Most times I do but it's because a ticket cost $200. for being a mandatory seatbelt law breaker. I do want my kids, babies & pets secured in a moving vehicle when even a sudden panic stop may be required. I can understand the safety issues involved and how about them school buses lacking seatbelts, the no seatbelts on school buses would seem to be a major safety concern.
Here in Houston, Texas, you better have the seatbelt on with the "click it or ticket" seasons, even though day laborers riding in the back of the truck seems to be OK while driving down major freeways. I'd rather decide for myself than be required by law.

Seat belt laws are a real pet peeve of mine, as far as I'm concerned the $)*((@#*&#@ government has no business requiring me to wear a seat belt. Yes, I know some will jump on me for this statement and tell me how much safer it, you'd change your mind if you pull a body out of a car, etc, etc, but that's my opinion and no one is going to change my mind. It is just another example of an all encroaching nanny-state.

That said, I wear seat belt *MOST* of the time. I don't wear one when I'm driving six block to the post office or going a half mile to run an errand and not going over 35 mph or so. I always put one on if I'm on the highway or driving several miles.

THAT can be fixed. My '04 Suburban didn't do that, but when I got an '08 last year it had the damn seat belt chime. A day after I bought it it no longer had the chime and only took about 10 minutes.

I always was told to buckle up as a kid, so I do it out of reflex now. In fact, I don't let anybody ride in my car with me unless they also buckle up.

In 1969, I was heading home to VA from Morgantown WV for Christmas. I hit an icy patch, spun out and had a head on with a GTO. I was in a Volkswagen going about 50mph. He was doing about 50 mph, also. (That's like hitting a brick wall at 100 mph.)

Both of us were wearing seat belts and survived with minor injuries -- mostly bruising from the seat belts. Both cars were totaled. More like mangled.

So, Yeah. If the car is in motion, the seat belts are hooked up for both me and my passenger. Period.

Duhhhhhhh........

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Festina lente - A. Caesar

I wear one because I dont want to pay for a ticket. I hate wearing the things and feel just like steave about it. I drive a lot in the boonies on dirt. I will not wear it there. I do put it on when I hit pavement and more chance of a ticket. I do not belive everthing preached.

I can understand your stance. I don't appreciate it when I am told to do something for my own good. At least we know you aren't one of those sheeple who do everything asked of them by anybody and follow the herd off of the cliff. We should be able to make up our own minds on our actions without being told what the "correct" answer is. You seem to have made your own decision on when you wear or don't wear a seat belt, and most sensible people shouldn't have a problem with that. That being said, I decided to wear a seat belt when driving because it less likely to hurt when something goes wrong.

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J.D. Roy

I wear them as of 9/4/09 just paid the ticket . I will not feed the bear again . Just like other laws that infringes on my rights especially when no school bus is required to have them ,and the riders on school buses are exempt .They do not have to have belts because it would cost too much, according to the lawmakers .

My first car was a '64 Corvair. It came equiped with lap belts. Seemed sensible to use them and I've used belts ever since.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I didn't wear one all the time until I heard a deputy sheriff say, "I have pulled a lot of dead bodies out of cars, but I have never had to unbuckle their seatbelt!

Scott

I always wear mine and if anyone rides with me, they have to buckle up. I also was a LEO and saw what a mess it makes when a person becomes a projectile. So far as mandating it by "the government", I think that if one doesn't want the government to make them wear one, they shouldn't expect "the government" (EMT's, LEO's, Coroners) to clean up their mess when they are thrown out of their vehicle after a moderate impact. Its sort of the same as wearing a good, full face helmet and riding jacket and gloves and boots when I ride my motorcycle. I have been asked by other riders if all that gear is too hot. The best response I have heard is that I would sweat than bleed. Its my body and I prefer keeping it with the skin on.

Car doesn't move unless everyones hooked up. That being said I remember as a kid laying up in the rear window on road trips.

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Jumpin Gee-hoss-a-fat..Bob

well this is a subject that i can say i think stinks i believe it should be the option of the driver (if over 18 years of age) yes i know they save lives but what they dont tell you (yes at a lesser percentage) seat belts can kill you as well. i was in a wreck with my pick up truck hit black ice yada yada yada to cut this short it rolled 10+ times collapsing the roof flush with the dash because i was not wearing it i was thrown to the passanger seat floor (instead of strapped to the seat) if i was wearing in this case i would have been crushed at the hospital the cop showed up told me i was lucky i did not wear my belt but none the less here is your ticket. i believe even if there is a 1% chance (it is higher) that i can be hurt by that belt it should be my choice just like bike riders in quite a few states helmets are optional why?? cause they have proven that they can hurt you as well as help just my thought on this
18 wheel big rig driver with no causable or non causable accidents in over 10 years but i do wear it cause the cost($) is to much without

I always wear a seat belt. I originally started wearing one because it was going to become law but now feel naked not wearing one.

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Barry, youngest son of Claud

Well, there's always that one (or two or three) cases where this claim is made. I still think the odds are that you're more likely to be injured when not buckled up. I'll take my chances with the belt.

BTW, ever think of getting a keyboard with CAPS and punctuation? I ran out of breath reading you post, must be getting old.

yea sorry burk i was on a rant LOL i did a lot better in math then english obviously

I refuse to wear one. I just pay the ticket and notch my drivers license. I have also heard the law say they have never got a dead person out of a seat belt. I will agree with that because the law is directing traffic, the medical people get the dead person out of the car. I have also saw dead people when the seat belts were tore out. For seat belts to really work the car needs a rollcage. I have been in several wrecks and I will be 68 this month and I don't need the government to tell me how to look after myself. I used to ride some rough stock but the only thing that I will wear on my head is a Setson. Larry

I will say that I believe in Darwin, And I personally think it is your right to not wear a belt.
But if you choose not to, I also believe that insurance should not cover your injuries if you are in an accident in a state that requires you to wear one.
Funny thing is that when I ride a motor bike it feels funny to not have a belt?!?!?!
Look around nect time you are on the road and look real good in the more questionable areas of town, And tell me what you see.
Seems to me like the less $$ you make, The less belts get worn in the car, And even the youth on the street need them to hold up their dang pants!
Peter

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

why do I wear one??? Cause I've seen what happens when you don't.

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Forum consigliere

No problem, I've actually learned to read that style from my kids IMs. I just haven't been able to get myself to reply with the same style. Old habits die hard. I could understand your post, so don't worry about the keyboard comment. Just teasin'.

I always wear mine. Click it or ticket.

I wear my belts all the time. I really would like a 4 point or 6 point harness with 3" belts.

Only time I ever needed them was in one of those VW Rabbits with the sholder belt which attached to the door, and the "knee bolster" to keep you from going under the dash.

It felt like getting punched in the chest by the belt, and I got bruises on my shins from the "knee" bolster. But I was fine.

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Regulate Banks, not guns

I can live with the side bolts. I can live with the dual shoulder harness attached to either the roll bar or thru the seat and down to the floor behind me. I'm not so sure about the crotch belt stopping me. I'm thinking it could hurt. Like worse than death.

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Dick Burg

Always wear one. I probably wouldn't be here if I didn't.

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Misty

I will say that I believe in Darwin, And I personally think it is your right to not wear a belt.
But if you choose not to, I also believe that insurance should not cover your injuries if you are in an accident in a state that requires you to wear one.
Funny thing is that when I ride a motor bike it feels funny to not have a belt?!?!?!
Look around nect time you are on the road and look real good in the more questionable areas of town, And tell me what you see.
Seems to me like the less $$ you make, The less belts get worn in the car, And even the youth on the street need them to hold up their dang pants!
Peter

i can see your point peter but then it has to go both ways! because there is a chance even small that a seat belt will kill you, in those cases who does the family get to sue the government? i doubt it but again its (not you) the government and law makers saying and making the public believe its the right way period no exceptions because they hide the exceptions under red tape and where the public can not get access to. I think everyone can agree there has to be some cases (even if you do not agree with me) that a seat belt was the cause of injury or death. have you ever opened up the paper or seen the news where they report cause of death *seat belt* no but they sure are the first to report that because they were not is what killed them. why?? well money of course seat belt infractions have generated millions a year

20 years in the US Air Force where seat belt use was mandatory 100% of the time. Since they couldn't watch you 24/7 off base, they had what is called "line of duty determination". In short if you were violating regs by not wearing a seatbelt, your medical bills were your own to pay, plus active duty pay was withheld during hospital stay and convolesence while you couldn't perform your duties.

The only time I don't buckle up is when I'm in the back of an ambulance performing cpr. And I tell you this, it scares the heck out of me to be standing in an ambulance rushing to the emergency room, hoping the driver knows his stuff and no idiots hit him and turn us into patients.

My personal vehicles don't move until everyone is buckled up. They don't like it, they can walk.

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NRA Life Member

When I was younger, I only wore them when I was on the highway, now I'm older, and a little smarter; I wear them all the time... This being said, I never wear a seatbelt when I ride my Harley.

Also, even though I think it really is best for everyone to wear seatbelts, I just I don't like the idea of the government passing laws saying that you have to wear them (I realize the social responsibility/and cost that everyone has to bear when people don't wear them, but I just hate when the government gets involved in this type of legislation; overdone!)

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NRA Life Member

i can see your point CJ expecially if you work on an ambulance. But can i ask you one thing in 2 parts? First do you think the cause of injury or death was a seat belt ever? Second if that was the case do they list that cause as a seat belt or do they word it as injurys caused by the accident, and if they were not wearing it , its labled cause failure to wear seat belt. can you see this point or am i just nuts? <and yes i know wearing it helps more then hurts> but still

click it or ticket

Been in two wrecks that I'm still here to talk about because I was wearing the belt.

When there are fatalities here the news reports the ones wearing and not wearing seatbelts. Its almost never that someone dies wearing the seatbelt.

Fly4miles, I'm not in favor of the gov telling me everything I have to do. As I said before, I understand there are certain cases where the seat belt can do more harm than good, but I think those are rare. I'm glad you survived your accident without a belt, and hope you are as lucky if there is a 'next time'. I always made anybody in my back seat buckle up even if it wasn't required by law. Why? Because I didn't want them coming through the windshield if I had to make a sudden stop or had a collision. If I thought they were safer without the belt, and it wasn't required by law, I wouldn't have done it. Most of the time, those people in the back seat were my kids. I always did what I thought was best for them, regardless of the law. They were always strapped in.

I see you found some of those keys.. good work

guess i come under the 1% that was injured because of the seat belt. wrecked a 66 mustang gt and was wearing one. was paralyzed for several days because of it. at the time the drs. didn't know if i would walk again. i have had my lower back rebuilt because of the seatbelt and refuse to wear one to this day and its been 40yrs. since that accident. my state requires it but i have a medical statement that says i don't have to. it really upsets the law when they pull you over for a seatbelt violation and then can't write the ticket. the only belts i ever wore after that was when flying. i also agree with those who say the government is trying to control their lives. you should be able to make your own decisions if you're of legal age.