I have a question. And please take the time to read this, it is very important to me. Why won't teenagers wear their seatbelts? I know that there are the few that wear them, but not many. When i was in 8th grade, my best friend got in a wreck and was thrown 129 feet from the car she was in because she wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Luckily, she survived and now just has a couple scars on her arm, after 5 facial surgeries.
In August of this year, A girl that i have known a long time died in a car wreck with her boyfriend (he didn't die). She got pinned underneath his Truck and died instantly. She wasn't wearing her seatbelt.
So many young lives could be saved if teenagers would just wear their seatbelts. Why won't kids wear their seatbelts. It is so simple, and that little click could save a life. The girl that died in August had a best friend. Her name is Jennifer, and everytime i see Jennifer she never has her seatbelt on. Usually, after school, she is on her way to the cemetary to see a sixteen year old that died because she didn't have her seatbelt on.
When will teenagers learn that just because a seatbelt isn't the coolest thing in the world, that it could save their life? ****************************************************** 10-14-02, 04:46 PM clarebear That is a great question! In Michigan, March 2000, we just passed a new law called Click it or Ticket. A police officer can now just pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt. It is a 25.00 ticket for unbelted driver or passenger. If someone under 16 is not bucked up in the backseat then the driver gets the ticket. Michigan is in the process of making driving without your seatbelt a moving violation which would result in points on your license.
According to a review of crash statistics, Michigan experienced 76 fewer traffic deaths in 2000 and a continued decline of an estimated 52 more lives in 2001.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the reasons!
10-14-02, 04:57 PM BandaiJ My uncle was killed in a car accident when he was thrust forward and the seatbelt choked him. The cops said if he hadn't been wearing it, he would have lived. What I don't understand is why motorcyclists aren't required by law to wear helmets.
10-14-02, 08:22 PM Cptinsjs "Click it or ticket" laws are all over the U.S., but what good are they if you can't force people to wear them?
The law is even my in my state, Florida.
People don't wear them because they sometimes forget. Others however, seem to have this "chronic forgetfulness" to obeying laws that are set there for the safety of everybody. Or, they may think that they are above the law. Some people are also uncomfortable wearing them.
But I'll bet that the most common reason that people will give to you if you ask them why they don't wear their seatbelts is that they think wrecks will not happen to them.
(And just for the record, I usually remember to wear mine. Actually, I think there is only one incident where I did not. Maybe I buckled after a little bit. I really can't remember... Oh well.)
10-14-02, 09:11 PM Texan-In-Exile Years ago (before the "Click it or ticket" law), I refused to wear a seat belt, fearing being trapped in a burning car or the like. I changed my mind after a few years of watching Mobile drivers. I became afraid NOT to wear one!
My son (who is 27) usually wears a seat belt. (Wish it were all the time!) My daughter (who is 13) was raised to wear one - it's a natural thing for her to buckle up. (Thank God!)
Shoulder straps press on my neck, but I've solved that problem - I attached a clip on the lap belt near the buckle, which holds the bottom of the shoulder strap down just enough so that the shoulder strap crosses me at an angle so as not to cut into my neck. I cannot understand why auto makers have not designed a more comfortable seat belt - maybe more people would use them!
Lucky Girl - You are very mature to support the use of seat belts! I'm just sorry that you had tragic experiences to reinforce your belief. But we are always here for you!
Godspeed! --Mitzi
10-15-02, 01:24 AM MrSensitive I wear my seatbelt so the oppressive nanny-state government won't stop me, ask me for my papers and then slap me with a financial burden which does nothing but pad their wallets.
I don't like seatbelts. I think threatening me with a financial burden and tainted traffic record is oppressive, wrong and not at all what we should be allowing our government to do to each other.
I think it's wonderful for people to believe in wearing seatbelts. I think it is fascist for people to DESIRE a government that would enforce it as a law.
It is bad law, it is wrong and a land of freedom is not exemplified by such oppression. Look what you've done to our country. I weep for the future.
Mr(click it or stick it)Sensitive
10-15-02, 09:02 AM Beth000376 I'll have to disagree with you on this one Mr.Sensitive, If you have children at home you might one day change your mind on this. To think that my now twelve year old son will soon be driving and riding with friends is a scary thought, And it just might be the seat belt that saves his life while he's out riding with his friends one Friday night. And to think if it wasn't a law how many young people do you think would use there seat belts? not many I'm sure. I think if you ask anyone who has lost a love one to a car crash that could have been prevented with the use of a seat belt, they'd all tell you that this law is a good one, And I'm sure if you were ever in an accident and your seat belt saved your life, your wife will be thankful it's a law, and you were buckled up. Beth
10-15-02, 12:06 PM nursey63 Do you have any idea how many patients I have taken care of in the ICU that did not wear their belts and ended up with major problems. I have been with many will they died. I think part of the problem is that children need to raised from the get go that a seat belt must be on. My 9 year gets in the car and if he doesn't have it on when we are ready to go he yells wait I don't have my seat belt on. But friends of his were not made to wear their belts so they don't. They don't see their parents wear them.
BANDJIA---Comments on if he would not have had his seat belt on he would be alive. My question was he wearing the seat belt in the proper way. If yes to this question you don't see this that often. Matter of a fact in my 16 years of ICU nursing only ONE time was a man lucky for not wearing his belt. He would have had a pipe through his head. But instead he flew out of the car and was sliding down the road on the door of his car with his fingers underneath the door. Get the picture. He flew a long ways and needless to say he was alive by luck. But like I said this does not happend much.
My husband use to argue that he is such a good driver. But it is not him I'm worried about it is the drunk who is going to run the light and ran right into him. If has not belt he will probably be thrown from the car and if he lands on his head which so many do when he wakes up if he wakes up he will have wished he was dead because he probably has a broken neck and now can't move his legs or arms. Little kids will just fly out of cars when you stop quick.
To me you are just committing a form of sucide if you don't wear your belt. So buckle up please! It does save lifes!
Motorcycles in the state of MO must wear a helmet. I can't understand why a state would no inforce that. I personally would not ride on one. I have seen many wrecks and usually it is the car driver that we get as a patient not the driver of the motorcycle because they died on the seen. Motorcycles are harder to see when you are driving. So they get hit easier than if you were in a car.
10-15-02, 12:12 PM Jelp01 I was once forced off a wet roadway by a semi coming right at me in my lane. I had to hit the ditch and ended up rolling my car over. I just happened to wear my seat belt that day, which I hadn't been in the habit of doing. Because I was, all I got was a scratch or two from flying glass. If I hadn't............well, I might very well not have been around to make this post. THAT was enough to convince me to always wear my seat belt from then on.
10-15-02, 02:31 PM Ewood27 In the UK it's the law. Front or back seat, you wear a seatbelt. There are very few exemptions. Children in the car are covered by the rules too, but I'm not too sure about the details - by the time the law came in I had no small children. The driver is responsible.
The death rate in accidents has fallen dramatically.
As a side issue, riders and passengers on motorcycles must wear helmets.
I don't want to join the personal freedoms discussion. I'm not even an American. But being stubborn about this freedom could lead to your wife becoming a widow or to hundreds of people having to be involved in the care of your paraplegic self.
I've been driving for 48 years and never had a serious accident. Tomorrow some idiot could easily change that. I wear my seatbelt - always.
10-15-02, 02:44 PM Yelena I always ear my seatbelt. Its the first thing I do when I get into a car. Its just sort of become habit. If I dont have it on, I feel very uncomfortable.
10-15-02, 02:53 PM jell8 I agree with you. Being alive is more important than being cool. My grandfather doesn't like wearing seat belts. And yet he's been in about 3 accidents when he was younger than nearly killed him. I think that it's probably good for police men to arrest people who don't wear their seat belts. I agree with Yelena's statement, too.
10-15-02, 03:13 PM megan_09 I think that people everywhere should always wear their seatbelt. If i don't have mine on then i feel naked. I think that this is a direct result of everything that has happened in my life. When my best friend got in a wreck almost three years ago, i wore it from that day on and since Crystal died in August it feels all that more important to me.
Thank you guys for your opinon on this and keep them coming! smile
10-15-02, 04:01 PM Kati99 What is "not cool" about wearing a seatbelt??? Is it cool to risk your life? I don't think so! I don't understand how people can "forget" that. I do that automatically when I sit down in a car, it's like a reflex. In Germany it's also a law, and the driver carries the responsibility. Nobody wants the person that gives them a ride to get into trouble because the passengers don't wear seatbelts, that's another reason why everyone does it. If those kids are too immature to understand the necessity of using seatbelts they shouldn't be allowed to drive! It's a scary thought that they let such children who care more about coolness than about safety use cars. Cars are no toys, and driving is not a game!
10-15-02, 09:01 PM cattywampus Huh. My car won't go until everyone has their seatbelt on. The ratio of people who died wearing vs. people who died not wearing must be 1-100,000 at least. Talk to a cop or a paramedic - they'll tell you.
Catty confused confused confused
10-16-02, 04:14 AM MrSensitive There used to be a time when freedom was more important than having an oppressed life...
Instead of fines for not wearing a seatbelt, why not just put people in jail for failure to buckle up? Wouldn't that be more of an incentive than a silly ol' fine? If we're truly interrested in oppressing people until they toe the line OUR way (for their own safety, of course), it seems a prison sentence would be more sensible than a few bucks out of pocket.
Mr(retraining for restraining)Sensitive
10-16-02, 11:23 AM puppyblues What do you think of the new device that enables the radio in your car if the seat belt is not buckled? Do you think kids will find a way to get around it, or do you think it will work? Personally, I think if it saves just ONE life, it's worth it.
By the way, good post Megan. I'm very proud of you. wink
10-16-02, 12:39 PM Leppi
quote:Originally posted by puppyblues: What do you think of the new device that enables the radio in your car if the seat belt is not buckled? Do you think kids will find a way to get around it, or do you think it will work?
From what I've seen, the teens who rid around without seat belt tend to also have the radio on blasting load. Enabling the radio won't make any diffeance. They don't want to wear a seatbelt, reminding them won't help. -yafa
10-16-02, 01:33 PM puppyblues There is a new devise on the market now that you can install in your car. The way it works is you have to buckle your seatbelt before the radio will work. Most teens WILL NOT go for long without a radio, so it was created so that if they want music, they HAVE to buckle up.
10-16-02, 03:09 PM Leppi sorry puppy, I missunderstood what you said. I thought you said thier radio is on everytime the seat belt isn't buckeled. -yafa
10-16-02, 04:41 PM Kern67 SEATBELTS I feel naked if i dont wear it smile Its habit to put a seatbelt on. Most kids who do not wear seatbelts is because parents do not require it. Once you have done it all your life, you automatically reach for the seatbelt when you get in the car.
10-16-02, 05:04 PM gizmogram When I was younger, I never much bothered with seat belts. I'm happy now that I was never involved in an accident.
It is now law in most states, and if a driver is pulled over for any reason, additional fines will be added for any passengers not wearing seat belts.
Once I had children, and with the advent of airbags, seat belt laws, etc., I thought it in my best interest to try and change my thinking. I found that this is true - if you make yourself do something every day for 30 days, it becomes habit. I made myself buckle up every time I got into my car.
Now, 20 years later, I don't even go down to the store 4 blocks away without buckling up.
I know there are stories about people being trapped by their seatbelts in major accidents, but I sincerely feel that more lives have been saved than lost by people buckling up.
10-16-02, 05:06 PM Kati99
quote:Originally posted by Kern67: I feel naked if i dont wear it smile Its habit to put a seatbelt on. Most kids who do not wear seatbelts is because parents do not require it. Once you have done it all your life, you automatically reach for the seatbelt when you get in the car.
That's right! Don't you also have a law that parents must put their kids into special seats for children and later make them use seatbelts? And even if not, it's totally irresponsible if parents don't do that! Here it has been done that way for a long time. I grew up with it, and I'm almost 30!
10-16-02, 05:50 PM jell8
quote:Originally posted by Kati99: That's right! Don't you also have a law that parents must put their kids into special seats for children and later make them use seatbelts? And even if not, it's totally irresponsible if parents don't do that! Here it has been done that way for a long time. I grew up with it, and I'm almost 30!
In Texas than there's a law that all children 4 and under have to be in a car-seat.
10-16-02, 08:49 PM Walks On Water You know, when I go racing, I can just about predict what the other drivers will do and they can do the same for me. We all are going in the same direction. No on-coming traffic to worry about, no intersection or traffic lights. No drunks or just plain bad drivers.
In order for me to race, I must have a flameproof driver suit, gloves and helmet. I get in to the car with a custom fitted seat, surrounded by a tubular steel roll cage and lastly, I fasten my seat belt. Good and tight. Not the ordinary passenger car type, but a 6-point harness. Two over the shoulder, two around the waist and to between the legs or sub straps. It will hold me in place even upside down. I know, I tried it. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Do you think for one minute, I would go driving on public streets with a bunch of amateurs and not “Buckle Up.”
After buckling my two Grandsons in their car seats, I was in a little hurry and started to drive away before BUCKLING UP. Next thing I heard was “Grandpa, aren’t you going to Buckle Up?"
Yes, there are some dangers to the seat belts, but no where near the possibilities as with out.
10-17-02, 07:49 AM chanceygardner There's any easier way. The starter is disabled until all occupants have their seatbelts on. (Pressure sensors on car seats tell the system which seats are occupied and it is already done that the seatbelt detects if it is used). This way, you cannot drive without all passengers wearing seatbelts. wink 10-17-02, 11:33 AM nursey63 QUOTE: I don't want to join the personal freedoms discussion. I'm not even an American. But being stubborn about this freedom could lead to your wife becoming a widow or to hundreds of people having to be involved in the care of your paraplegic self. QUOTE
This is not a freedom. It is a law that we have to wear a seatbelt. Some people just don't obey the law. Just like I am sure you have laws for murder, but it still happens and the person gets in to trouble. Right?
QUOTE: That's right! Don't you also have a law that parents must put their kids into special seats for children and later make them use seatbelts? And even if not, it's totally irresponsible if parents don't do that! Here it has been done that way for a long time. I grew up with it, and I'm almost 30![/QUOTE]
Yes we have laws just like you but as said above some people just don't obey them and they get in to trouble. I think it was around 1984 or so that they were making it a law. But when I grew up we didn't have to wear them un less you wanted. But their was not as many accidents because the speed limits were not as fast. We do not have a highway that you can go however fast as you desire or in the mood for. Which I still find it hard to believe form my friend from Germany that talk about it. Talk about dangerous and irresponsible as you were saying. I just quoted you and your comment. I personally think all lands should work together and see what mistakes others have made so they can change their ways. I was in accident right at the time that they were trying to get everyone to wear their seatbelts. I was driving along and a car ran a yield sign and I ran right into the car. I had forgot to put my on and woke up in the passenger seat. I had a small concussion but the other lady was hurt bad and got a ticket for running the yield sign. I always put my on after that and like others have said once you do you feel naked with out it. As I said in my other post my children ALWAYS have theirs on and one time we were in a running late and I my 9 year old did not have his hooked yet and he yelled wait I'm not buckled up. So they will learn from the adult and it to will be a habit. As a nurse it makes me sick when I see people not wearing their seatbelts especially if they have kids just standing in the back seat. I think wear is a cop when you need one. This day age you can't say something to them because you never know what kind of nut they are and they might come over and hit you or you car or even shoot you. I really think that is sad. So every one wear you seatbelt please. cool
10-18-02, 01:03 AM MrSensitive There's no denying that wearing a seatbelt is a darned good idea. But tell me, where is the benefit in making someone pay hard earned money for NOT wearing one? I can unsderstand penalizing a parent who neglects to buckle in their kids, that being child-endangerment. but as an adult, driving solo, why should I be fined for not wearing a seatbelt? How will my paying up to $100 make our world better or improve safety on the streets. For what exactly am I being punished?
Mr(knucklehead bucklehead)Sensitive
10-18-02, 02:45 AM chanceygardner Mr.S. - If you're involved in an accident, the worse the injuries the higher the cost to the emergency services. If you're killed (as you're more likely to be without seatbelt) then this also has a cost. Why should other people bear the cost of your unwillingness to wear a seatbelt? The fine is to encourage you to wear a seatbelt (and save you from yourself). I'm still not sure about the US, it looks as if different states have different requirements, but in Europe, it is certainly a law that all passengers must wear seatbelts and you face a very large fine for not doing so. Since seatbelt wearing was made law, the number of fatalities and serious injuries has fallen dramatically. Some laws are necessary, even though they restrict your 'freedoms' - some people DO need saving from themselves (although, I guess you could argue about evolution and the gene pool and 'Darwin Awards', but that's a different story). wink
10-18-02, 09:10 AM Walks On Water I just found this site on my daily perusal of web sites. Each teen plaining on or now driving and their parents should read.
10-18-02, 09:53 AM Johnny Velo My point of view....When I first got my drivers license, cars did not have seat belts. I learned to drive without belts. Also, as many of you know, teens are immortal and nothing could hurt us. Later on in life I was educated in the seat belt usage. Never do I go anywhere now in my car without being hooked up. That's just the way life is, to me, anyway. Same as Yelena asked about young people thinking about sex all the time. Hormones rage in those years and there is nothing can be done about that. Meaning that young people believe that they are immortal, the same way I thouhgt at that age. It's an unfortunate fact of life.
10-22-02, 03:36 PM megan_09 I think that the censors that make you put your seatbelt on before you can start the car is such a great idea. That is the best thing i have heard in a long time.
10-22-02, 09:52 PM Chicabird I think I heard something in our area that they were going to start fining the driver $50 or so for each person in their car that wasn't buckled up.
Personally- I buckle up. ALWAYS. 10-23-02, 04:13 PM
megan_09 I found out today that i get to do a double truck (the two pages in the middle of the paper) about teens and their seatbelts! Isn't that great!! wink
10-24-02, 01:16 PM Lydia that's awesome!!!! With your mature thoughts on the subject, I'm sure it'll be a great piece!!!
10-24-02, 05:29 PM Walks On Water As we all have had a part in developing your article, please post it here so we may read it.
I think you will just fine, knowing your Mom.
10-24-02, 07:25 PM Jelp01 That's great, Luckygirl! Just remember to use my post in your article! big grin
10-24-02, 08:00 PM megan_09 LOL@Jelp! smileThis message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
