The law doesn't apply to me - because I choose to always wear it whether in my car or someone else's. I've had 3 minor accidents when I was younger, one was my dumb, the other two weren't. Of those, one I saw coming for the last few seconds but had nowhere to go, the other was WTF is my car sideways, and why won't it move? Never saw the other car coming, and the impact stunned me for several seconds so that I didn't realize I'd been hit. My 64 Riv only has lap belts, but when I get around to replacing the headliner and shaping the roof weldline, I'm going to weld in anchor points on the B-pillar to add a shoulder belts. When some idiot that has their dog in their lap, trailer-trash queen with her kid in her lap, bozo on the phone without a hands-free device, can't-drive-and-change-CD-at-the-same-time Darwin Award contender decides to chlorinate their gene pool, I don't want to be taken out too. The law applies to them.
When I was out on the road with my tractor-trailer I was stopped at the weigh station and fined $50 for not wearing my seatbelt. I never wear my seatbelt and when the officer was writing up the fine I asked him "since when did you care about me?". He didn't say anything and just handed me the fine.
I think it should be your choice, the government steps over the line on this one. If I don't wear my seat belt it only hurts me. Now if I was drunk I'm a danger to others. About 8 years ago I got T-boned, it was a pretty bad accident. Had my seat belt on, when my car went flying into the ditch and the air bag went off. When the air bag goes off, 1st it smacks you really hard in the face, then it is really smokey. At first I thought the car was on fire. I freaked out, door wouldn't open and my belt jammed. After the smoked cleared I realized I wasn't in the trouble I thought. The people on the outside broke the window and had to cut the belt. I still got pretty banged up. It was the worst feeling thinking I was trapped in the car. I still don't always wear my belt. I don't wear a helmet when I ride my motorcycle either. So far it isn't a law in IL, but they are working hard at it. I'm blind in one eye and feel it is at a disadvantage to me. I do wear full safety gear when ridding my dirt bike. I'm messing around then I'm going to crash and get hurt. The real kick is the town I live in and the few next to it. The cops will pull you over just for no belt. Then tell you that they are going to give you a break on the $75 ticket by giving you a village ticket of $50. Yeah, money wise that's great, but the money goes all to the village then. So they are making money hand over fist on seat belt tickets. They hunt for people not wearing belts. Even if they pulled you over for something else, your walking away with at least a seat belt ticket. You have no way to prove you had it on before they walked up. I've learned to leave it on until they get up to the car and ask for my info before I take it off and get it. Not that I get pulled over often, but to often for not doing anything wrong.
Actually, if you read the small print on your insurance plan, most companys will not pay your medical expenses if your not wearing a seat belt. This happened to a close friend and he lost his ass to bills.
It's like this here in the Netherlands: You have to wear them, also in the back seat. And when you're learning how to drive, you also have to wear them. So I say: Refuse to wear them at driving school, if you are going to refuse to wear them in daily traffic after getting your license.
Just after I got my license I happened upon an accident where two cars had hit more or less head on, not even that high of a speed (judging by location, anyway)....there were enough teeth and blood spread aorund that it made a forever lasting impression. I even added the shoulder belts to my GS, pain in the ass that they are...and I won't get in a car that doesn't have them. You do what you want. Later Tim
I wear my sealt belt all the time. Funny, because my first accident in 1979 was in a 1975 Chevy Impala where I got broadsided going through a green light by an drunk drug addict with no license or insurance who ran his red light which had been red a while. He just never thought about stopping for the red as he sped to intersection He came right into driver side door and spun the car through wall into the living room of the corner house. I saw him coming and dove over seat to rear passenger side. When car settle the passenger side door was sticking out of house. I opened it and got out. Since it was at 5:00 PM rush in new your there was a large crowd gathered that was at bus stop or stopped upon seeing accident. They were looking for the body of the driver in bushes and yard. I told them I was OK. The old Italian lady gave me a hug that nearly squeezed the life out of me and offered a prayer to God on the spot. Car was totalled, looked like a v. Crushed to the middle of bench seat. If I had my belt on I never would have made it. But, I do still wear a belt despite first accident. Part of my ritual to start cars.
These kind of laws have nothing to do with safety concerns. They simply help to empower law enforcement to harrass the people for no reason. What's really going on?
growing up on the farm driving 'lot cars' i always had seat belts. w/out them i would have died a few times. when i was 14 driving a tractor, i just came by an accident. lady up the street had to stop fast at an intersection and her 12 yr old daughter went thru the w/shield. cut her jugular vein and bleed to death. no seatbelts. you can bet i use them. andrea is an e.r. nurse doesnt want motorcycle(donorcycle) dummies coming into e.r. unless your willing to donate your eyes to those who really could use them. please subscribe yourself to the darwin theory. remember, driving is a priviledge, not a right. dont believe it, check your laws. have yet seen anybody to beat that law. john
Seat Belt Law I got something else to think about, now with the "OBD2" computers in the new cars there was a man who bought a new Corvette and found a box that was wire to the main computer and it stored data of if a seat belt was being worn, real speed, ABS if applied and other information. The customer demanded it be remove and was told it is needed for the car to run, he sold the car. The new cars are now storing information on if a engine missfires, and what cylinder and many other things that now are being down loaded every time you go to the emission station. The 1996 and newer now don't use the "Dyno" any more just the data port in the car. So know the goverment knows your driving habits, seatbelt usage, speed traveled, miles traveled, emission tampering (Chips) and many other things. I own a 1984 Century Wagon with a carburetor and the first generation computer that does what it suppose to no more no less. I will never buy any thing newer then 1986 or so. The more I find out about new things the more I don't want them. I enjoy my 72 GS and my 68 Corvette, they don't need a computer to run!!! AL
seat belts save lives, no ands, no ifs, no buts !! if u are dumb enough not to be wearing a seat and u are involved in an accident and are seriously injured, then your right to sue for any damages s/b drastically limited or any settlement greatly reduced as u were the author of your own fate. i have been wearing seat belts since 1962 and fortunately never in an accident. u only have to witness the scene of a rollover mva where multiple people are thrown from the vehicle and killed all because they did not wear the seat belts. but then again i say, it is your funeral. if u so desire to go beltless ! i do however dislike the design of the shoulder harness. i would prefer a 4 point system similar to race cars, but i suppose the cost would be too high. another point - if u drive/ride a motorcycle, wear your helmet; if u ride a bicycle, wear your helmet. the old adage applies- " the life u save may be your own" .
I always wear my seatbelt, no question of it, but it should be my choice. It's the government protecting us from ourselves, which isn't right.
It's a law that has a good sentiment behind it But, if you look back on how this country was supposed to be, Big Government isn't supposed to be telling you to do every little thing that you should do You should know that the seat belt is a Good Thing, and you should wear it. But should it be against the Law to not wear it? that's ridiculous Some collector cars don't HAVE seatbelts :laugh: I'm waiting to get pulled over for no shoulder belt, personally The whole idea of Big Brother seems a funny thing to most folks, but our Freedoms are slowly being taken away in the interests of Safety. It's always Safety that is used as the reason if you ask me, the reason is always safety because that reason is a Sure Thing. As soon as you use that reasoning, you can say that anyone who doesn't agree with you is saying it's OK to put people at risk. "The Children" are usually mentioned Nobody wants to see children safe to play and do their thing more than me But that argument is a cop-out. It's revenue, pure and simple. next thing you know, transit Cops are going to ticket because I was standing on the Yellow Line at the subway station. And the reason will be "It's unsafe!", which translates into "It's an easy 40 bucks for the city!" I used to debate this stuff in College in Constitutional Law. "Should it be illegal to burn the American Flag?", Well, the answer is "No" but then everyone says you're un-American Well, the standard reply is that decommissioning a flag includes burning it in a ceremony, so it helps to know what you're talking about! :grin: Motorcycles are always what I think about when seatbelts come up. No seatbelts on motorcycles. Some states have no helmet law. I've seen riders bounce up out of their seats on a hardtail :shock: I've also seen riders actuially stand on the seat at 80 mph on the highway. But there's no motorcycle seatbelt lobby. Why? Not enough riders could be cited to make it worthwhile
Wow what a thread ! I have a story to share where a seatbelt( or lack of one ) CAUSED an accident . A buddy used to have a 74 gto. Rare car . Big blue bench seat in front. One day after a wash wax and armour all he went for a drive. Around a big swooping corner (less than a mile from his house ) he slipped out from under the wheel. Lost control of the car and totaled it. we still laugh about it but he always wears his seatbelt now to say the least. I am surprised , especially from the race car guys ,why you wouldnt wear a belt constantly. When I am in my race car , I have my crew chief tighten the belts to the point that they are uncomfortable. The way that your body gets hurt is when the body accelerates and then stops quickly. This is how Earnhardt was killed. It was not the head-on it was when his head kept accelerating without his body then stopped sharply. This disconnected his head from his spine and killed him instantly. This is why the hans device is mandatory now. It keeps your head in line with the rest of the body. I dont feel comfortable with a wheel in my hand in anything without some sort of belt on. I feel the most UNcomfortable in my buick. Lapbelt only. To me the thing is just freightening. When I ride my MC I always wear leathers and a full face helmet. You need to go for a slide just one time and see the pavement going by your FACE at 50 plus mph and that will change your whole perspective. I just dont feel comfortable doing anything else. This stupid little harley helmets-- just wear a baseball cap --just as good. Many of you are right . It is your choice not to wear the belts. It is also your choice to become a projectile in an accident . That is physics guys. Your front seat becomes a launch platform. Again,acceleration of your body is the problem . If you are belted in you dont have as much chance to accelerate. As far as over legislation . Seat belt mandates do come from Washington. In order to get highway funds and the like , states must enforce them. Helmet laws are state issues. Oh yeah thats right. I dont live in a state AND I dont even have a vote in congress(or even a congressman) and my representative doesnt get to vote on all issues AND when the voters in DC LAWFULLY vote on an issue we may or may not get to see the results or may have the results of a LAWFULL VOTE overturned because some congressman from Idaho or wherever doesnt like it ! But at least Im not bitter. Have fun guys George in DC
That's a good point, George In 1968, Formula One started using seatbealts. that's right, 1968. that's becuse in 1968, a man by the name of Jimmy Clark, a Scotsman, and the best racer in the world at the time, was killed under unknown circumstances. It's since been theorised that a bird him him in the face. Nobody saw it. The man was one of the best drivers who ever lived, period, and it was unthinkable that he should be careless or even be unaware that his car would fail. he was that good That year, seatbelts were the rule because of it. Cars had to have them. before that, drivers were pitched out of their cars. the wisdom was, take your chances with flight rather than burn up inside your aluminum coffin. 40% of the F1 drivers of Clark's day were killed racing. 40% :shock: It's telling to me that an organisation like '60s F1 would change a rule like that over one man's death, when they callously kept the race going when a man like Bandini just about roasted alive at Monaco the previous year- and changed nothing because of it. they didn't even stop the race Jimmy Clark, in 1965, a few hours before he won the flippin Indy 500. he was also World Driving Champion that year (his 2nd time):
This is why the Fed is able to enforce a seatbelt law. It is a PUBLIC safety issue, not just a PERSONAL safety issue. Without a seatbelt it takes very little to get a driver in a position where they don't have full control of their vehicle. This a public safety issue!! I saw a clip on one of those "real video" type shows. To the best of my memory, it went like this: A Police car was following a car at about 20-25 mph. There were 2 or 3 people in the front seat. The people were arguing and not paying much attention to anything. Then the argument turned Physical, the driver made a sudden left turn. The passenger door popped open and all the people in the front of the car were ejected onto the pavement. Now there was a running vehicle, in gear, with nobody controlling it on a public road. What if you were on that road, or if your kids were crossing the street.?? If you don't want to protect yourself from personal injury that's fine. But your desire to drive without a seatbelt infringes on my right to be assured that everyone else on the road is doing everything possible to maintain control of their vehicle. If you are not utilizing a seatbelt that is present in a vehicle, you are not doing everything possible to maintain control of your vehicle. Sorry for the rant :rant: It was not directed at anyone in particular. I don't like big government either and I don't like being told what to do, but wearing a seatbelt is a NO-BRAINER. Protect yourself, and those around you. :TU: End of lesson :Smarty:
I don't think anyone is questioning that seat belts are Good It's more of the issue with making it a fineable offense under the Law In my opinion, they do this in the name of safety only, and the real reason is to make money. I see no difference between this and the idea of photo radar or red light cameras I used to drive for UPS. Any pro driver will tell you seat belts are not even an option
YEAH.....their going to put those red light cameras here in Cleveland now and the Simons allready said it's gain more revenue :rant: this fool..... was on TV saying the fine will $100.00 for this $100.00 more if you do that and....$100.00 more if you do that too.... :af: :rant: SO LET ME GUESS.... WHATS IT ALL ABOUT......... o No: uzzled: MONEY :moonu: HEY BIG BROTHER :moonu: THE LAND OF THE FINE
