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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:
learningtofly · 29/02/2012 21:54

Classic cars are also an exception to the law on seatbelts. Children over 3 years are allowed to ride in the back seats unrestricted.

It feels very weird not wearing a seat belt. Mind you tis also weird looking for parking spaces you can drive forwards out of as our Bond doesn't have reverse either! Grin

Lueji · 29/02/2012 22:11

The driver is only responsible for the children in the car.
Each adult passenger is responsible for itself.

www.lawontheweb.co.uk/Road_Traffic_Law/Seat_Belts

TalkinPeace2 · 29/02/2012 22:30

Interesting link
BUT
in crash situations, insurers and the police have gone after drivers where passengers were not wearing belts
its about due care and attention

sozzledchops · 29/02/2012 22:36

Used to live and drive in a place where although law, the locals often didn't bother. Was quite upsetting to see all little kids standing in the centre well unrestrained or bouncing up and down on the seats. My friends saw a woman break suddenly, her son hit his face on the dashboard and the mum was more concerned with wiping the blood off her leather seat than consoling her crying child.

TruthSweet · 29/02/2012 23:12

The only time I have been in a car without a seat belt was in a village car park behind the village shop, we were going at approx 5mph (I was the passenger) and a car pulled out in front of us - the old man just hadn't seen my friend's car. I was thrown into the windscreen and hit my head on the rear view mirror.

I only had concussion and mild whiplash but I felt ill for days. I can't imagine what might have happened if we were on an actual road at normal driving speeds - I would have been pate!

I did a 1st aid course years ago (about 10 I think) and the one thing that really stuck with me was the trainer telling us what to do if you are on scene at a car accident and a driver wasn't wearing their seat belt and they have been thrown against the steering wheel.

You hold their hand and let them know they aren't alone while they suffocate to death (grim) as they will have broken all/most of their ribs (you can't breathe with all/majority ribs broken - the ribs break in a circular pattern). Now obviously this was in the days before air bags and very hard steering wheels but not all cars on the roads are new and there is the chance the air bag may not deploy anyway.

Lueji · 29/02/2012 23:15

Even in public transport, it can be dangerous not to wear a seatbelt.
When I was pregnant I tried as much as possible to sit facing the rear and that's how I place DS if possible.

It's amazing how callous some people are in public transport. I have seen children jumping about, and mothers holding babies without holding on properly.

I have also seen someone get a serious concussion after the bus driver had to break suddenly.

goingslowlynuts · 29/02/2012 23:54

I had a car crash 5 days ago. An idiot drove into me head on at 40 miles an hour. Both cars were written off. The police and ambulance men said that our seatbelts had saved our lives. It was a split second accident i had no possible way of avoidding. If i hadn't have had my seatbelt on my children would have lost their mother. I can't stop thinking about how crucial that seatbelt was.

brighthair · 01/03/2012 00:00

My friend has had about 37 operations after a crash including skin grafts and facial reconstruction. Her heart stopped twice on the way to hospital. It was a head on with a combined impact of 120mph. It took 9hrs from the crash to cut her out and get the road back open. She was wearing a seatbelt. I have no doubt if she hadn't been she wouldn't be here today
I work for the emergency services and there are SO many crashes every single day. There is some statistics that show most accidents occur close to the start or on a short journey so just going up the road you are much better to wear one
I never ever ever drive without one, and anyone who doesn't wear one isn't welcome in my car, I would happily chuck them out into the pouring rain if they refused

Whatmeworry · 01/03/2012 00:08

^Even in public transport, it can be dangerous not to wear a seatbelt.....

What public transport do you use? The Tube, trains, and buses don't have seatbelts.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 01/03/2012 00:24

The only people I know who don't belt up are people who don't drive. Most of them are londoners who get taxis or the bus and never wear a seatbelt. It's just not routine to them.

I can't drive without one on..

OurPlanetNeptune · 01/03/2012 00:49

Brighthair my husband did just that with SIL (his brother's wife)! DH will not drive anywhere if anyone in his car is not strapped in properly. We were going out to dinner and she refused to wear one because it would 'crease her dress'. He called her a cab and she met us at the restaurant.

Lueji · 01/03/2012 07:13

I know public transport usually don't have seatbelts. Sometimes they do. Public transport is not only inner city transport. It can still be dangerous if they suddenly break.

theodorakis · 01/03/2012 07:49

What a very self righteous bunch you are! If you want to wear one do, if you don't then don't. Not exactly rocket science.

Shutupanddrive · 01/03/2012 07:54

YANBU, it's ridiculous not to put it on when it's right there and takes a few seconds. My car beeps at me anyway if I don't put one on, and beeped at a bag of shopping on passenger seat as it assumed it was a person too!

Whatmeworry · 01/03/2012 07:57

I know public transport usually don't have seatbelts. Sometimes they do. Public transport is not only inner city transport. It can still be dangerous if they suddenly break

Yes, but you are looking for danger where the risk is absolutely minimal. Public transport is actually statistically extremely safe. As in fact is driving cars in city traffic as speeds are so low.

MrsGWay · 01/03/2012 07:59

It is safer for passengers when the driver doesn't wear a seatbelt. So maybe they aren't for the sake of their children!

Original poster
QueenSconetta · 01/03/2012 08:02

How do you figure that MrsG?

OP posts:
MrsGWay · 01/03/2012 08:15

Seatbelts give a false sense of security, so drivers take more risks. So conversly drivers not wearing them don't and take more care with their driving. This was investigated before seatbelts were made compulsory, they did consider whether they should be compulsory only for the passengers.

Bumblequeen · 01/03/2012 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Hecubasdaughter · 01/03/2012 09:18

Wearing a seatbelt doesn't make me take more risks. I suspect those who do are risk takers anyway.

learningtofly · 01/03/2012 09:32

Not wearing seatbelts does make you feel more aware of your vulnerability in a car and probably heightens my awareness of other road users. And I find you move around a lot more in your seat.

Lueji · 01/03/2012 10:01

Not sure about the general population but I can guarantee that I, a seat belt user, am a much safer driver than ex, a non-seat belt user.

I suspect people who don't like to wear seatbelts are more risk prone. Has this been investigated?

And the issue about taking risks doesn't take into account the behaviour of other drivers.

Personally, I don't care if Joe in the next car uses his seatbelt or not. Only in the sense that I (as a taxpayer) may have to contribute towards his medical treatment and possible life long incapacity, or benefits towards his bereaved family.

MackerelOfFact · 01/03/2012 10:30

I always wear a seatbelt and wouldn't consider allowing the DCs to travel without one, or allow anyone sitting behind me or my family not to wear one either. But like many things, it's up to the individual. Not necessarily a bad thing, natural selection and all that.

hackmum · 01/03/2012 10:36

I can't help thinking this says it all:

www.snopes.com/autos/accident/seatbelt.asp

(For those who don't want to read the link, an anti-seatbelt campaigner was killed in a car accident, in which his life would have been saved had he been wearing a seatbelt.)

learningtofly · 01/03/2012 10:54

I think you have to look at it sensibly and reducing the risk where possible. All cars are only as safe as the person driving it and the other idiots on the road.

If a seat belt is available - wear it.

If there isn't one - adjust your driving accordingly.

Our historic car (bit too rickety to really be a classic!) has no seatbelts at all and it wouldn't be possible to fit them but it would be a shame to mothball it because you can't put a seatbelt on. So you adjust your driving to reduce the risks - it can (just about) hit 35 miles an hour but its a bit hairy, particularly as there is no modern suspension. I tend to only hit 25/30 miles. You allow much greater breaking distances (just wish others wouldn't cut into it) and more time for acceleration and manoeuvers.

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