What really is a bad driving record?

Nah only the ones they know about….ask me how I know

 

Physics doesn't care if the driver of a vehicle is commercial or private owner. The seat belt works if you wear it and it doesn't work if you don't wear it.

 

Some companies may disallow bluetooth phone calls. I don't know. The only thing that matters is the regulation/law and company policy where a driver works. There is no safety violating company policy EVEN IF every othe company would accept the behavior.

 

The difference is between an experienced professional driver who practices as a matter of habit defensive driving and one who doesn't. If you aware of your surroundings ahead and to the side you can avoid many of the circumstances in which a seatbelt might save your life. I have had many such experiences and have avoided injury throughout my 42 years on the road including emerging unscathed from a head on crash that wrote off both vehicles and avoiding someone emerging from the side because I was expecting it.

Leaving aside being T-boned which may save you injury but equally might trap you in a rolled over vehicle, the only use for seatbelts is if your vehicle comes to a sudden stop and you are thrown forward unexpectedly. But if you are aware enough that can be avoided. Defensive driving allows to to anticipate and avoid. I do wear a seat belt on the rare occasions that I am a passenger because I am not concentrating in the same way as I would as a driver, but, having both hands free I am able to reduce the pressure and hold the belt a little away from my body.

I don't advocate that everyone should follow this course, I don't even believe that people should not wear seatbelts, but I do believe most strongly that in the case where we are talking about my personal safety alone and no-one elses, I should have the right to take whatever risks exist, in the same way that devotees of dangerous sports are allowed to follow them.