Why don't people wear their seat belts?

[Ducimus]

The seat belt ad being shown here on subsim, got me to remember this accident we had locally last month.

What that news article doesn't tell you was
a.) After she was ejected from her vehicle and hit the Semi, she was literally smeared across the road. From what I understand, there were bits and pieces of her all over the place.

b.) I heard she had kids.

I cannot for the life of me fathom why people do not wear their seat belts. I mean, i was taught at a very young age to wear the damn things. If you end up the military they drill it into your head. In fact if you die in a vehicle and weren't wearing a seat belt, they wont pay out your life insurance. (SGLI). That and it's common sense that if you get in an accident and don't want to be kissing the windshield, or as a hood ornament, or as a greasy smear on the road, to buckle that damn belt. This isn't rocket science! (It's called inertia!) And yet, people don't wear them, and obviously enough people don't wear them to warrant ads like the one above, not to mention the local woman who for all intents and purposes earned a Darwin award. I don't understand these people at all.

[soopaman2]

In New Jersey, it is a huge no no to drive without a seatbelt.

They can pull you over for your front seat passenger not wearing a belt, they usually get ticketed .

But, on the garden state parkway, I can fly along at 85-90 miles an hour in the middle lane, and wave to a trooper as he passes me on my left at 120 mph. (mind you, [because most of you do not know] you are a moron if you do the speed limit on the GSP and not stay in the right lane. Even the cops speed.) Maybe it is because it should have been toll free years ago, but our crooked politicians kept robbing the fund. (But that is besides the point, and off topic)


(I love the NJ autobahn!)

Now in the townships it is different, I have alot of small towns around here, and they use a seatbelt as probable cause to screw people. As you know, if they do not spend the entire budget, it gets reduced, as it is with most taxpayer funded industries.


I also watched a car (6 car lengths in front of me) try to agressively pass, clip someones bumper, and nail one of those Steel posts on the overhead signs. He ejected through the windshield.

There is also a video floating about of a man who had a siezure on the same road (Garden state parkway) and ran into the triangular piece of cement between toll lanes. He was ejected too.

Jerseyans drive terribly, but you should see how the New Yorkers drive when they visit my shore. j/k

NJ is so congested with cars, I seen alot of messes, due to morons. Things that belts could save. I wonder myself why people do not wear them.

Safety is so lame, screw you squares man!

[Seth8530]

agreed

[Sailor Steve]

I always wear a belt, just as I always wear a helmet when I ride. While I think anybody who doesn't wear one is an idiot, I also stand squarely against seat belt and helmet laws.

[Morts]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I always wear a belt, just as I always wear a helmet when I ride. While I think anybody who doesn't wear one is an idiot, I also stand squarely against seat belt and helmet laws.

I honestly dont have a problem with seatbet and helmet laws.
As one of my friends explained at airsoft to someone who wanted to use shooting glasses (?? google translate, think Oakley M frames),
sure, you can say "I do this, and im responsible for the outcome", but that doesnt take the guilt away from the other person when he shoots his eye out.
It's the same with the seatbelts/helmets, sure, he isnt responsible for the other person not wearing it and dying as a result, but i doubt that takes away the feeling of guilt after an accident.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I'm 100% certain that I wouldn't be here if I didn't wear a seatbelt. Rollbar helped too, but definitely the seatbelt.

And I always wear a bike helmet, they may not be perfect but they're obviously going to help over nothing!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Morts

I honestly dont have a problem with seatbet and helmet laws.

I agree about the guilt part, but it's not my place to make someone else be safe from himself. I can think of several places where similar laws could be enacted, but others might think were extreme. I also believe that such laws aren't about safety but control.

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I'm 100% certain that I wouldn't be here if I didn't wear a seatbelt. Rollbar helped too, but definitely the seatbelt.

And I always wear a bike helmet, they may not be perfect but they're obviously going to help over nothing!

I'm also certain that a seatbelt saved my life. That said, I still believe it's wrong to protect adults from themselves.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I always wear a belt, just as I always wear a helmet when I ride. While I think anybody who doesn't wear one is an idiot, I also stand squarely against seat belt and helmet laws.

Same here, cept I disagree vigourously about being against seat belt and helmet laws. I'm for them, 100% People need to be protected...against their own stupidity.

[antikristuseke]

I disagree with mandatory helmet laws but agree with seatbelt ones.

The reason is simple, if you crash a bike without a helmet you are no more of a risk to others than with a helmet. Crash a car without wearing your seatbelt and you will become a safety risk for others because you become a projectile.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

I disagree with mandatory helmet laws but agree with seatbelt ones.

The reason is simple, if you crash a bike without a helmet you are no more of a risk to others than with a helmet. Crash a car without wearing your seatbelt and you will become a safety risk for others because you become a projectile.

And what of the person who was not wearing a helmet and and they suffer brain damage and now society has to pay for their care not to mention the increase in insurance costs that everyone gets to share. People do not die in every motorbike crash even the ones not wearing helmets.

Sure motorcycles are dangerous but much more so without a helmet there are accidents that wearing a helmet will save your life or save you from permanent disabling head injuries or from your face getting skinned off by the road.It cant save you from everything just like a seat belt can not but would you think a solider was stupid for not wearing every bit of armor possible even though it can not stop everything either better something than nothing.

the way I see if an event has a good chance of occurring you might as well protect yourself as much as possible there are plenty of vehicle accidents so such a thing is likely.A cop or solider is much more likely to get shot at than the average Joe so might as well wear body armor.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

I disagree with mandatory helmet laws but agree with seatbelt ones.

The reason is simple, if you crash a bike without a helmet you are no more of a risk to others than with a helmet. Crash a car without wearing your seatbelt and you will become a safety risk for others because you become a projectile.

It's not all just about the risk to the individual. I guarantee you over 50% of MC riders have no kind of insurance to cover the medical bills when they crack their skulls. You and I are paying from them.

Now, if we agree to a system where the first responders check the injured party for insurance, I would be ok with no helmet law.

"He looks pretty bad, broken leg, shoulder, probable concussion and head injuries. Bob, check his driver's license, does he have the medical insurance box checked?"

"No, George, he does not. Apparently he can afford a $28,000 Harley, $40 HD shirt, $20 doo-rag, and some pretty extensive tattoo work, but he didn't think it was important to pay for insurance or a helmet."

"Ah, well, let's go. (shouts at downed rider) Good luck, buddy!"