Seat Belts

"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/24/2015 at 08:44 • Filed to: safety

Folks, there is no excuse, none, for not wearing a seat belt. I lost an aunt many years ago in a survivable accident who wasn’t wearing a seat belt and then you !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! where a whole family was thrown from their vehicle in a roll over. Father killed, mom and kids in serious condition and a little girl who was lucky enough to find a little distraction in the arms of a compassionate police officer. Put the belt on. Make sure your kids are belted. There is just no excuse.

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DISCUSSION (28)

450X_FTW > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 08:47

You should wear your seatbelt because it can save your life in the event of a car crash, not because the law says you have to wear it. I’m a firm believer in Darwinism, let people make their own decisions as long as it does not do harm to others. Ride your motorcylce without a helmet, drive your car without a seatbelt, your call.

f86sabre > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 08:53

I’m over that. That little girl did not ask to grow up without a father. His personal choice impacted his entire family. Most all of us have families, immediate or extended, and making such a basic, stupid, bad choice at an individual level does have an impact on others.

505Turbeaux > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 08:53

that is so goddamn sad. Those poor kids. I knew someone growing up who lost their parents who were changing a tire. That was not preventable on their part. This is. Not only buckle up, but ESPECIALLY when you have your kids in the car, get all of your defensive driving skills going on and shit like this wouldn’t happen

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 08:53

As much as I agree with letting actions have consequences, this is not one of those issues.

Cleaning up your scattered remains when you do manage to prove Darwin right is so traumatic and expensive it is not worth it.

fourvalleys > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 08:55

I can’t stand people who don’t wear safety belts, just the same as I can’t stand motorcyclists that don’t wear helmets. Because in both cases, they’re increasing the chance a minor accident becomes a serious one.

I like to think I’m a pretty safe driver. But let’s say I cause a medium-severity accident, circumstances irrelevant. If the person I hit is ejected from their vehicle or smashes their face on the steering wheel, that fender bender and traffic ticket just became a potential manslaughter charge. Or a civil suit. Not to mention the horrifying guilt that would come with it. I’m not sure I could live with myself even if there weren’t criminal charges.

Is it likely? Maybe not. But it opens the door for the possibility, and I don’t like that.

spanfucker retire bitch > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 09:09

God dammit.

It’s the simplest fucking thing you can do when you get in your car. And to not even have your own kids buckled up?

I don’t know whether to be angry or saddened right now.

RazoE > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 09:38

I won’t start moving my car until everyone is belted in. They usually ask me “are you serious?” and I say “Yes.” I really won’t. Plus a nugget of irony: An anti-seatbelt advocate was killed in a minor car accident.......because he wasn’t wearing his belt.

f86sabre > spanfucker retire bitch
06/24/2015 at 09:51

Both

Slave2anMG > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:05

But it does harm others...immensely. Seat belts could have saved at least 74 lives and 7.2 million dollars during the period from October 1, 1987 to July 1, 1989 in patients seen in the seven trauma centers in North Carolina. Spending an extra $350 million nationally doesn’t hurt others?

Who’s gonna pay for your lifetime support while you’re in a vegetative state? Who’s gonna feed your family when you’re worm chow in the ground? Who’s gonna care for the cops and first responders that have to clean up your Darwinistic splattered guts...because you didn’t take responsibility for your own safety? Saying it doesn’t hurt others is complete nonsense.

450X_FTW > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 10:08

But that’s just it. People have to be smart enough to wear a seatbelt. That’s how stupid our society has become, that people have to be told wear your fucking seatbelt. It’s sad

450X_FTW > Slave2anMG
06/24/2015 at 10:09

Then why in the hell is it legal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet on?!

450X_FTW > Slave2anMG
06/24/2015 at 10:11

And who’s going to pay for it, the person who did not have their seatbelt on once their insurance maxes out which probably happens pretty damn quick. Other option is if it is determined that a person died or is severely injured as a result of not wearing their seatbelt, the insurance doesn’t have to cover your medical expenses. That would change peoples minds real quick about not wearing a seatbelt

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:23

As much as I'd like to agree with that...those people drive up the cost of insurance for everyone else

450X_FTW > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
06/24/2015 at 10:29

But how so? At least here in Michigan you can ride your motorcycle with no helmet as long as you have so much coverage (can’t recall the exact amount).

For comparison the 400 lb guy at your office who eats horrible food, smokes, drinks alcohol daily, does not affect the insurance of the person who’s young, in shape and doesn’t even eat carbs.

So why should my auto rates go up to cover other peoples behavior?

spanfucker retire bitch > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:38

Because some states are dumber than others?

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:48

I am with you. If you are stupid enough to not wear a seatbelt, especially if you have kids...it is literally your funeral. Go on with your bad self.

Not saying I do not feel for the kids and family. Not securing your kids in the car???? Are you nuts?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:53

If you think your insurance rates for anything don’t go up because other people make poor decisions you’re living under a rock. Insurance companies make money by spreading out their costs over all it’s customers, yea you’re rate may not be as high as those people that make poor decisions, but to think that those people don’t affect your rate at all is naïve. If everyone wore seat belts, properly maintained their vehicles, and paid better attention while driving I guarantee insurance rates would be significantly lower for everyone.

Slave2anMG > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 10:56

Because stupid. No other explanation. Because stupid.

450X_FTW > spanfucker retire bitch
06/24/2015 at 11:24

Michigan is horrible for stupid laws. Here if you get into a car accident your insurance pays it no mater who is at fault. Sitting at a red light and someone rear ends you doing 60 mph, you get to pay for the damage to your car

450X_FTW > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
06/24/2015 at 11:25

Kids should absolutely be required to wear a seatbelt, no exceptions.

450X_FTW > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
06/24/2015 at 11:27

I agree with you 100%. What pisses me off is that there should be laws in place that other peoples screw ups won’t change my rates. If I drive for 20 years and have zero tickets zero accidents my rates should only go down never up. #endrant

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 11:28

That’s a flawed argument though. If someone crashes and gets seriously injured because they weren’t wearing a helmet or seat belt, it costs everyone money. Hospital, emergency services, disability, etc

450X_FTW > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/24/2015 at 11:30

Thats why in places like Michigan you must have a higher insurance coverage if you want to ride without a helmet.

BigBlock440 > Slave2anMG
06/24/2015 at 12:14

Who pays? You or your insurance, when they run out of money, pull the plug.

Rico > f86sabre
06/24/2015 at 12:23

I mean it’s 2015 who doesn’t wear a seat belt? How much of a lard ass do you have to be to find a seat belt uncomfortable? I seriously NEVER notice it unless I need to reach out for stuff like food from a drive thru fast food spot.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > 450X_FTW
06/24/2015 at 12:40

That doesn’t account for the crews that have to scrape brain off the highway and the traffic caused by the cleaning crew

yamahog > 450X_FTW
06/25/2015 at 08:01

Late to the game but FYI that is effectively false, at least in Michigan. Insurance providers (Progressive is basically the only one in the state) have bumped up all motorcyclists’ bodily injury coverage to minimum $20k by default (which is the no helmet requirement), so even if you do wear a helmet, you’re still paying more for the higher coverage that other people use.

So if anything, the Darwin award winners are literally costing us all.

450X_FTW > yamahog
06/25/2015 at 08:05

My motorcycle insurance is only $300 for the year so I’m okay with that. Hell the MCCA fee cost more than my actual coverage for my bike