General Chat

Always wear your seat belt whether as passenger or driver?


A piece in the local paper about a recent police operation in Cheltenham

Of 800 vehicles surveyed, 31 drivers were not wearing their seatbelt. Of these, 12 were van drivers and seven were lorry drivers.

The ages of the culprits – 3.8 per cent of all drivers surveyed – ranged from men in their 20s to their 60s.

The AA said lessons should be learned from the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was not wearing a seatbelt in her fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the organisation, says the fact men emerged as the main offenders in the Cheltenham survey was fairly typical, but added many women also fail to belt up.

He said: "There is a very strong suggestion that it's the least safe drivers who don't wear seatbelts.

"Young men are road safety problem number one. Not wearing a belt increases your chances of being killed.

"People in more rural parts of Britain are more likely to belt up as most of their journeys are longer."


I have to say that I always wear the belt, sometimes it is difficult, as when taxi drivers take off at speed before you have fastened it but both OH and I always wear it. In fact we had safety belts fitted before it became illegal not to wear them so it is habit now.

Morning Ann,

Like you OH and myself have always worn seat belts even
before they became legal.

Emmax

if i forget i get a telling off by baby satan

I never go in a car without a seatbelt on. Years and years ago, before seatbelts were compulsory, or often not even fitted to cars, we did fit them as an extra. (How I hated those old seatbelts you had to adjust, not like the reel ones these days.)

There seem to be so many people around here who don't use their seatbelts and even worse travel around with small children on their lap in the passenger seat. They are usually the transit or transit pickup vehicles. Makes my blood boil!

Elisabeth xx

I always wear a seat belt ,but didn`t until the law came in in 1983...


My OH is one of the statistics in that survey.......for work drives a transit van, dosn`t wear a seatbelt, and is 49 years old....lol

I`m always telling him to put it on........the only reason he wears one in our car is because the car bleeps at you constantly if you don`t....

Agree hate seeing children on laps in the front...thats one of the most dangerous thing you can do.

My children were always in appropiate car seats and now grandaughters here she is as well.

Quite often i`m travelling behind cars and you can clearly see the car in front has a child in the back standing up between the 2 front seats....I dread to think what would happen if they had to break quickly.....how can people be so stupid where their childs safety is concerned.?.....and as for people still chatting on mobiles while driving with one hand....just don`t get me started on that one.!! lol



Nicky

I think van delivery drivers are exempt the law if they only travel 50 yards between stops.

Yes, I always wear it, whether driving or as a passenger. I have to say, though, that I find rear seat belts very uncomfortable as they dig in my neck and can't usually be adjusted. However I am very rarely in a back seat so not a huge problem!

I find that most belts are a bit uncomfortable because they are fitted for taller people and I am not tall. We have the cushioned guards over all our belts which helps a bit.

Always, if people who don,t had ever seen the result of some one going headfirst through a windscreen ( As I Have ) they would soon change for the better. Ann, You,ll have to be stood in a Grow Bag and be watered well.**M**,:o)>

Yes i always wear one. even though I have to keep pulling it away from my neck because it wont stay in place over my big bosoms!!
Have got it adjusted as far as it will go but it still rides up.

I have always felt that seat belts were not
designed for women and in some cases
dangerous when driving. Agree it catches
on side of neck and like you Shirley have
big bosoms, uncomfortable.

Emmax

I always wear a seatbelt (know what you mean about taxi drivers though!!). I used to work as a nurse in A&E - when you see the results of people not wearing seatbelts it does make you extra cautious :-(

KG, I am sorry for your loss, if only people listened to stories such as yours there would be more lives saved. I hope this thread is not too upsetting for you. I will remove it if it is.

OH and myself always wear seat belts and anyone who gets in my car has to put theirs on or no lift for them.

"hangs head in shame" no i dont always wear it,

i dont know why but somtimes if we only going a short trip i leave it off,

i KNOW I should legally put it on but sometimes i dont,

i do make sue the baby has his on, and dad wont set off till he does has his fastened in, x

Stray, if you went through the windscreen and baby Satan was safe, he would have lost his Mummy. Isn't it worth wearing it to protect him from that pain?

KG that must have been horrible for you and your family..but at least he tried which isnt much conserlation

STRATKITTEN..................OMG what are you not thinking coz to say what are you thinking would be wrong

Always wear mine ...my dad worked for RRL which has now changed its name Transport research lab ...He was the man called out to take photos of accidents ......cant do that job to long!!!!!
Please wear your belts .....at least you the know you tried

When I first read this, I was going to say
"Yes, of course. I feel 'naked' without it"
But then I was called away to shunt a car off the drive and back again to allow another one to go out. Did I put the seat belt on? In this instance, no. My excuse is that we are at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and no passing/through traffic as there is no where to go! But any fiurther than that, and it deffinately goes on.

DET

I even put mine on for moving cars around. Who knows if your foot will jam on the accelerator etc, anything can happen in that split second.

I hope Stray will have this conversation on her mind each time she gets in the car!

Your little one needs you here. THINK!!

No apology for shouting.

Elisabeth xx