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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people don't wear seatbelts

134 replies

QueenSconetta · 29/02/2012 14:12

I just don't get why you wouldn't, yet so many people seem not to.

Also people who drive away then steer with their knees while they put their belt on. My DP is one if these.

OP posts:
MotherOfSuburbia · 29/02/2012 16:22

I have a friend with 5 children who just bought a new car. Not a 7 seater but a normal estate car (an expensive one so this wasn't trying to save money). Therefore there are not enough seats and seatbelts for all their children who just cram in the back (without car seats -apart from the baby).

I know we all did it when we were little and there were no seat belts in the back but I can't get over the fact that someone would knowingly endanger their family by making this choice just because they aren't 'people-carrier-type-people'.

SuchProspects · 29/02/2012 16:23

YonWhaleFish "Seatbelts save lives, it's fact.". It is. But then not taking non-essential car journeys also saves lives. Why single out the seatbelt refusers for opprobrium? It seems sort of petty and controlling.

TalkinPeace2 · 29/02/2012 16:23

then she is breaking the law and risking her driving licence as if ANYBODY is found in a car without a seatbelt, EVERY qualified driver is liable for prosecution

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:23

Mother you've the added issue of overloading with it's effects on speed, handling and breaking there too Shock

TheRhubarb · 29/02/2012 16:23

Erm YonWhale, as soon as LyingWitch stated she didn't wear one I knew there was probably a good, medical reason as to why not. She should probably have said so instead of letting people think it was merely a choice and then watching as they backtracked.

Saying you don't care if they die is a shitty thing to say. She has a fractured sternum which I presume is very painful, esp if you have a seatbelt rubbing or pressing against it.
Chances are, if she were to be in a collison, the seatbelt may well do more damage than good.

We can all cite personal incidents but to say what you did, that's completely unnecessary and out of order. Why not just be honest and say look, I had a relation who died because of an unbelted back seat passenger so my feelings are very strong on this issue - or whatever. Your opinions would get a lot more respect if you just showed a little tact and decency.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:26

YonWhaleFish "Seatbelts save lives, it's fact.". It is. But then not taking non-essential car journeys also saves lives. Why single out the seatbelt refusers for opprobrium? It seems sort of petty and controlling.

Err...because that's the topic of the thread? Start a new one if you want to debate the rights and wrongs of short car journeys. I am sure you are correct in your assumption it would save lives, but I haven't read any statistics or studies on the matter.

If you think wearing a seatbelt is "petty and controlling" I'd suggest you follow the link and educate yourself.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 29/02/2012 16:28

YonWhaleFish... your post was really arrogant, regardless of your history, which I neither know nor care about. You don't know anybody else's. Perhaps think about that. Peddling your own brand of sympathy depending on the circumstances of injury/death wouldn't mean a jot to a family so perhaps keep your 'don't care' attitude to yourself.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 29/02/2012 16:29

I should have, TheRhubarb, you're right. I didn't think of it.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:31

TheRhubarb I'd like to know exactly where I specifically said "Lyingwitch. I don't care if you die". I wasn't picking on her ffs.

I think I answered her objections to my statement (which I concede, didn't include the clause "if you've a sound medical reason etc") perfectly well in my subsequent post. I never aimed it at lying so don't try and make out like I did.

I object to the old "no one cares what you think as you're a stranger on the internet" as an argument, but however.

TheRhubarb · 29/02/2012 16:33

"Wear it or don't, I won't have any sympathy for you if you get hurt or die in an accident due to not wearing it."

Who was that addressed to then?

Your posts such as "I'd suggest you follow the link and education yourself" to be arrogant. You may not mean to come across as such, but that is the way your opinions are put across. No one likes to be spoken to in that way, internet or not.

Hammy02 · 29/02/2012 16:33

When I was about 12, a teacher told the class she never wore a seatbelt as it was up to her whether she risked her own life and no-one else's business. I shit you not...a teacher said this. This was back in the 80's mind but still. What a loon. She was a fruit loop. Every week she would manage to 'drop' where she lived, into conversation. It was one of the poshest areas to live in but even at my young age, I knew she must be riddled with insecurities to keep going on about it.

TheRhubarb · 29/02/2012 16:33

Sorry educate

TalkinPeace2 · 29/02/2012 16:35

Everybody should wear a seatbelt.
No ifs no buts.
The person with the damaged sternum - put the shoulder strap behind you but do the lap belt up.
If you are not willing or able to wear a seatbelt, use public transport.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:36

I think my point is valid. You SHOULD wear seatbelts if you possibly can, unless of course, like lying you have a medical reason not to. There are other posters in this thread who are far too flippant about seatbelts when there are solid facts backing the wearing of. I agree perhaps my first post was a bit harsh sounding...but it's an emotive subject.

albertswearengen · 29/02/2012 16:37

You are unlikely to go through the windscreen if you have your seatbelt on. You could die in what was a survivable crash if you had your seatbelt on.
So no I don't think it's the same for all road traffic accidents.

By putting a seatbelt on you are actively making an attempt to minimise the impact of an accident. By not putting one on I think you are basically saying you don't care about yourself and the others that are involved in an accident and it's aftermath. That's obviously an individuals choice but it is a selfish one IMO.

TheRhubarb · 29/02/2012 16:37

Yes it is, but what you said about not having any sympathy if she died was unnecessarily harsh and shocked me even though it wasn't even directed at me. It's just not a nice thing to say - ever. I hope you realise that?

albertswearengen · 29/02/2012 16:39

Obviously my post above refers to all those who can wear a seatbelt and aren't medically exempt.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:39

TheRhubarb It was addressed to all those being so flippant about wearing seatbelts on this thread, it just happened to pop up under lyings post.

I told that particular poster to educate themselves because they called it "petty and controlling" to care about seatbelt use. I find that arrogant, and I think my response was appropriate.

solidgoldbrass · 29/02/2012 16:40

Well, because they are fucking uncomfortable for me. I have scoliosis and there's something about seatbelts that makes it ache like buggery.

I resolve this issue by basically avoiding cars as much as possible.

However, I have little patience with those who are pants-pissing hysterics about seatbelts. For most of my life they were not compulsory in cars and most people managed not to die in car crashes nonetheless. I think there has been at least some research done which appeared to demonstrate that some people drive more dangerously when wearing seatbelts than when not wearing them.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:42

Yes it is, but what you said about not having any sympathy if she died was unnecessarily harsh and shocked me even though it wasn't even directed at me. It's just not a nice thing to say - ever. I hope you realise that?

I haven't said this about lying AT ALL.

I stand by it - I wouldn't have sympathy for the person who died if they've chosen not to wear a seatbelt. I know it's harsh, but it's true. I also expressed that i would of course have sympathy for the family. But as I am an internet stranger so what?

solidgoldbrass · 29/02/2012 16:42

Oh I do agree with whoever said, if you really want to save more lives take fewer car journeys. The majority of mundanes use private cars far, far too much. If you live in a city with public transport, have no mobility issues and no more than one non-mobile child, you don't need a car.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:42

Medical conditions exempted!

Bunbaker · 29/02/2012 16:43

I don't mind admitting that I backtracked. Often people who say they don't do things is because they don't want to, not because they are unable to. So, sorry if I misunderstood.

"I have a friend with 5 children who just bought a new car. Not a 7 seater but a normal estate car (an expensive one so this wasn't trying to save money). Therefore there are not enough seats and seatbelts for all their children who just cram in the back (without car seats -apart from the baby)."

I'm just Shock at such irresponsibility. How can they do this?

TheRhubarb · 29/02/2012 16:44

YonWhale - sorry it was still a shitty thing to say no matter who it was addressed to. If you are going to get this arsey over such an issue perhaps you will allow me a moment's arrogance to suggest you direct your anger towards those who cause crashes by chatting on their phones. I don't care who died doing what, I still have full sympathy for every death, it would be callous not to.

I'm bowing out now, I can't believe people can get this arsey over seatbelts. Seatbelts don't cause crashes, idiot drivers do.

YonWhaleFish · 29/02/2012 16:49

Rhubarb Don't start me on drivers with mobile phones, they make me SO angry.

Well, so be it, I am callous then.

I really object to the fact you've made out I've said things I haven't through this thread, like i have picked on lying personally, which I haven't.

The mistake I did make was not acknowledging that some people can't use seatbelts, my own fault, which I already admitted.