Seat belts....do you always "buckle-up for safety"

Well click ot or die is sort of a steep learning curve. The hope is that people will eventually get tired of getting pulled over and paying $50 tickets or whatever. Perhaps seatbelt fines should be done away with altogether and go to a license suspension. How does 1st - 30 days 2nd - 6 mos. 3rd - 1 yr, 4th 5 yrs, and a 5th gets you a lifetime revocation of driving privileges sound?

 

I always wear mine. I didn't wear it much prior to 1994, when I went to work for Dupont/Conoco, where it was company policy and our terminal manager was a real stickler. After that, it became habit and I don't move the truck without it. As I grew older, I figured out that besides being policy, it was the smart thing to do. My dad is a retired cop and has seen many bad things resulting from not using a seat belt and he's related some of those things to me, as well as shown me a few graphic pictures of the end result.

Now, that being said, my best friend rolled his car hauler back in the late 90s, after a 4-wheeler crossed the median after losing control in freezing rain outside Hays, KS. He wasn't wearing his and the rollover threw him across the doghouse and onto the passenger side floor. Had that not happened, the headrack (along with the car on it) crushing the cab down to the doghouse level would have surely killed him. Subsequently, he refuses to wear one to this day, other than to keep from getting ticketed. I see his point, but he fails to see mine that his circumstances were a rarity and it could have gone the other way, too, with his being ejected and rolled over by the truck.

While there are circumstances that a seat belt could lead to one's death, these are rare and I like my chances better having mine fastened.

 

Ok, so here's my problem with the whole seat belt argument, I'm an adult that means I take personal responsibility of my actions( good or bad) I suffer the consequences. While I understand the reasoning behind the requirement of seat belts, I reject it. Just like I think helmet laws shouldn't be in place, I would imagine just about anyone who rides on 2 wheels knows the chances of scrambling their brains in a accident, Their choice. If your a minor then by all means make it a requirement. Children should absolutely be belted in a school bus no exceptions!, same thing in a car etc. I personally don't have a problem so much with authority,I don't need my hand held. If i die that's a wrong decision I made mine to make. I have life insurance and medical and my family will be taken care of. Were all going to die at some point, some sooner than others. I live my life everyone else live their's. Were suppose to be a free society!.

 

But..... if you bounce out of your seat and kill a dozen people, those dozen people are being affected by your choice.

I agree about the helmet laws, and any other big brother type laws, but seat belts in a truck are to do with you maintaining control for the public's safety.

 

It sounds to me, to be utterly ridiculous. I only need a pair of sunglass on my motorcycle, but HAVE to wear a seat belt in a car. Bull Crap

 

Finally, someone who gets it...

 

Your right. Your decision your consequence. Problem with that is when people are seriously injururied and require long term or very expensive treatment who pays for it. Not enough coverage on auto insurance or health insurance. Then the state or county picks up the bill. This is why they pass seat belt legislation and helmet laws. That expense is passed onto all of us.

 

who pays for smokers when they get cancer ect....?

 

This whole thing about picking up someone's tab at the hospital is just getting old... I think our Country should be much tougher on this but, we are American's and can't do that, right? If the Government didn't spend trillions of dollars on stupid crap, and ran a sensible budget, medical would not be a problem at all. I will never change my mind on that fact that everyone should be accountable for their own actions and that no one has the right to take my money and give it to someone else. If you want to give your money away, do it, I won't stop you but quit trying to take mine by force! If the state wants to make a seat-belt law and/or helmet law, than that is fine with me. I don't necessarily agree with it but, the state's have that right. You don't like your state's laws, move to a state where you will be happy. I don't force my believe's on anyone, never will so, stop trying to force yours on me.

 

This morning I was traveling westbound on I-70, about mm 354 (just west of Limon). Light traffic, I was following a small sedan, about 8 seconds back at 65 mph, with nobody ahead or behind for a mile.

All of a sudden the sedan yanked to the right, down into the grass, slid sideways and flipped three times, bodies flying.

An eastbound FedEx driver and I were first on the scene. Two young men and a young woman. The young lady was thrown 50 feet beyond the car. Initially she could not feel or move her legs, but soon she regained feeling and the pain must have been excruciating.

I'm certain that young lady had at least a broken back and leg. Her brother was walking around, complaining of severe back pain. He stayed in the car, with a seat belt.

Their friend was ejected, and I think the car must have rolled on him. Severe internal bleeding, unable to move, in agony. When I left an hour later he was being medivaced on a helicopter. I helped stabilize and carry the young lady to an ambulance.

Likely cause of the accident was a blown steer tire. Sudden loss of control.

Made me think of this thread. Talked to my brother, and it reminded him of what our cousin said. He's an EMT...

..."I've never unbuckled a dad man".