To want to get out of the car and bang all the people who dont wear seat belts up against their window screen to show them what it would be like to crash ?

[gingeme]

I went out with my dh today in our car and within 20 minutes I counted 23 people in various modes of transport without belts on. Especially those with kids in the car

LOL at the safari park thing!
I have to say, much as I disagree about not belting up, a friend had a really accident where he was paralysed from the waist down (he was only about 20) and they did say it was caused by the lap belt bit of the belt. Ithink it cannot be underestimated about putting the lap bit over the tops of your thighs, rather than around your tummy (like my nan!)

I once forgot to strap ds2 into his seat . i realised after a few minutes though but my boys have never let me forget it.
'mummy, do you remember when you forgot to strap me in...'
Yes, I do, all too well. I double check every time now.

Once I drove (sick as a parrot) from Camrbridge to Huntingdon (about 20mins) wihtout strapping DD in (she was 1). I nearly died when I realised and pulled off at a little chef while I composed myself........and strapped her in! It is very easy to do. Now she tells me too "mummy do you remember that time when you forgot to strap me in?"

Thank goodness the kids are getting the message though. Shame we cant reach a few more Mums well people in general really. It just isnt worth the risk.

I have just emailed the www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk campaign who publicise everything road safety on behalf of the DTR (Dept for Transport as it now gone back to being!)
The DTR website is good and has all of their policies on road safety etc and the thinkroadsafety website is great for info, ordering posters for schools/activity booklets and emailing your opinions to.
I mentioned mumsnet when I emailed just so they could tell the scale of opinion. They did say though that they get lots of emails so it could be 2 weeks before receiving a reply! It's the government - we didn't expect anything else!

Well thats a start I guess. Thanks Lucie

I also think much of the false information about belts causing damage is a misinterpretation of the person invovled.

eg. What is actually said is "The injuries you suffered are caused by the seatbelt. However, without the belt you would be dead."
What the injured party most likely hears "The injuries you suffered are caused by the seatbelt." And thus the myth perpetuates.

Unreasonable. Why do you feel so very angry on their behalf?

Got a very quick repsonse from DTR:

Dear Lucie,

I'm afraid that we are not going to do more publicity at the moment on child car seats. Our budget this year is being spent on new mobile phone legislation, a new drink drive campaign, driving for work and child road safety and parents (which will cover all aspects of being a good example to your children, including using seatbelts).

With kind regards,

Glyn

So that's cool - even though it won't specifically focus on the exact matter being discussed, it'll still be generally covered through child road safety.

A new family over the road has just moved in a he has a works vanm Citreon Berlingo. Its a 2 seater van with space in the back but with 2 small windows in the back.

On my life he has two deck chairs in the back of it and his children aged about 9 & 13 are ferried around sat on them and the parents in the front .

I know they are too big to be in boosters but proper seats would be nice.

Thats good news Lucie. Guess its up to us then to go and bash people up against their window screens
Thats just terrible Thistime

I can remember seeing a girl who had gone through a windscreen years ago - she had a zigzag of stitch scars all down her face, I have been obsessive about seat belts since!!

I posted a while ago that MIL always gets in with the children and says "i'll just hold the belt across me" and I tell her in no uncertain terms that if we crash the weight of her could kill my children so she will fasten it please

Presume you mean the belt
My Dad does the same cause weve got static car seats in our car and he cant be bothered to put them in his car. My dh says 'dont think so'.

MY FIL refuses to wear a belt, when he is driving, I can't stop him, but as soon as he gets in my car, I turn round and say 'belt please' he normally grumbles at bit and then I say 'if you hit me in an accident you will kill me' That normally shuts him up. He reckons that the belt rubs his scar from his triple bypass

Kelly 1978 - I put on my seatbelt whilst putting my keys in the ignition. This is much easier than trying to do it whilst driving and doesn't take any longer.