Nearly everyone's buckling up
#22
10-03-2005, 07:38 PM
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RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
I guess I'll keep on taking my chances. 
The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety estimates that seat belts have saved 102,115 lives from 1986 through 1998. View their seatbelt clock to see what the number is now.
Virtually every study ever conducted indicates that lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of serious or fatal injury by 40 to 55%.
Consider that in 1997 in North Dakota, 103 people died in a total of 88 fatal accidents on state roads. Of those 103 victims, 77 were riding in cars equipped with seat belts but were not wearing them. Thirty-four of the 88 fatal accidents were one-vehicle rollovers. Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of accidents for unrestrained drivers and passengers, since so many of them are thrown out of their vehicles. For instance, 27 people were thrown out and killed in North Dakota's 1997 accidents.
...the rest of the article.
Virtually every study ever conducted indicates that lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of serious or fatal injury by 40 to 55%.
Consider that in 1997 in North Dakota, 103 people died in a total of 88 fatal accidents on state roads. Of those 103 victims, 77 were riding in cars equipped with seat belts but were not wearing them. Thirty-four of the 88 fatal accidents were one-vehicle rollovers. Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of accidents for unrestrained drivers and passengers, since so many of them are thrown out of their vehicles. For instance, 27 people were thrown out and killed in North Dakota's 1997 accidents.
...the rest of the article.
#23
10-03-2005, 07:41 PM
#24
10-03-2005, 07:47 PM
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RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
ORIGINAL: thestealth
I guess I'll keep on taking my chances.
I guess I'll keep on taking my chances.
The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety estimates that seat belts have saved 102,115 lives from 1986 through 1998. View their seatbelt clock to see what the number is now.
Virtually every study ever conducted indicates that lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of serious or fatal injury by 40 to 55%.
Consider that in 1997 in North Dakota, 103 people died in a total of 88 fatal accidents on state roads. Of those 103 victims, 77 were riding in cars equipped with seat belts but were not wearing them. Thirty-four of the 88 fatal accidents were one-vehicle rollovers. Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of accidents for unrestrained drivers and passengers, since so many of them are thrown out of their vehicles. For instance, 27 people were thrown out and killed in North Dakota's 1997 accidents.
...the rest of the article.
Virtually every study ever conducted indicates that lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of serious or fatal injury by 40 to 55%.
Consider that in 1997 in North Dakota, 103 people died in a total of 88 fatal accidents on state roads. Of those 103 victims, 77 were riding in cars equipped with seat belts but were not wearing them. Thirty-four of the 88 fatal accidents were one-vehicle rollovers. Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of accidents for unrestrained drivers and passengers, since so many of them are thrown out of their vehicles. For instance, 27 people were thrown out and killed in North Dakota's 1997 accidents.
...the rest of the article.
I had no idea about those stats. I'll keep on taking my chances as well by buckling up me and my daughter. Some lives are worth saving.
#25
10-03-2005, 08:01 PM
RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
They've saved less then 200,000 lives in over 20 yrs.....that seems excessively low to me.
Seat belts are a great safety tool, but even they are faulty. Just like the airbag arguements....we've all seen the stories about the kids and small adults dying from the airbags, but I'm willing to bet we have all seen or had them save lives.
I think each situation is different, and I think even the best of equipment fails. My cousin would be dead today had she worn a seatbelt....but at the same token her mother was saved by wearing it. Seatbelts are just like every other safety tool, they can work and fail even when properly used.
I think the larger issue here isnt seatbelts themselves, but the common sense and intelligence shown by people who drive. You simply dont let a toddler roam the car, if you are too short to reach the pedals you shouldnt be driving the car, if your car is malfunctioning do not continue to drive it.....
If we could resolve more and more of those issues, I think the seat belt issue wouldnt be thrust up at the rest of us so much. Seat belts do save lives....but they also dont prevent accidents.....and that's the issue we should concern ourselves with....
Seat belts are a great safety tool, but even they are faulty. Just like the airbag arguements....we've all seen the stories about the kids and small adults dying from the airbags, but I'm willing to bet we have all seen or had them save lives.
I think each situation is different, and I think even the best of equipment fails. My cousin would be dead today had she worn a seatbelt....but at the same token her mother was saved by wearing it. Seatbelts are just like every other safety tool, they can work and fail even when properly used.
I think the larger issue here isnt seatbelts themselves, but the common sense and intelligence shown by people who drive. You simply dont let a toddler roam the car, if you are too short to reach the pedals you shouldnt be driving the car, if your car is malfunctioning do not continue to drive it.....
If we could resolve more and more of those issues, I think the seat belt issue wouldnt be thrust up at the rest of us so much. Seat belts do save lives....but they also dont prevent accidents.....and that's the issue we should concern ourselves with....
#26
10-03-2005, 08:19 PM
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#27
10-03-2005, 08:24 PM
RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
ORIGINAL: 2coff
Driving should be a privlage not a right. The driving tests are a joke, anyone with very little driving skill can pass, it's in need of a major overhall. Skilled drivers will safe more lifes then anything else.
Driving should be a privlage not a right. The driving tests are a joke, anyone with very little driving skill can pass, it's in need of a major overhall. Skilled drivers will safe more lifes then anything else.
Great, great point 2coff
#28
10-03-2005, 08:34 PM
RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
ORIGINAL: DevilsReject
They've saved less then 200,000 lives in over 20 yrs.....that seems excessively low to me.
Seat belts are a great safety tool, but even they are faulty. Just like the airbag arguements....we've all seen the stories about the kids and small adults dying from the airbags, but I'm willing to bet we have all seen or had them save lives.
I think each situation is different, and I think even the best of equipment fails. My cousin would be dead today had she worn a seatbelt....but at the same token her mother was saved by wearing it. Seatbelts are just like every other safety tool, they can work and fail even when properly used.
I think the larger issue here isnt seatbelts themselves, but the common sense and intelligence shown by people who drive. You simply dont let a toddler roam the car, if you are too short to reach the pedals you shouldnt be driving the car, if your car is malfunctioning do not continue to drive it.....
If we could resolve more and more of those issues, I think the seat belt issue wouldnt be thrust up at the rest of us so much. Seat belts do save lives....but they also dont prevent accidents.....and that's the issue we should concern ourselves with....
They've saved less then 200,000 lives in over 20 yrs.....that seems excessively low to me.
Seat belts are a great safety tool, but even they are faulty. Just like the airbag arguements....we've all seen the stories about the kids and small adults dying from the airbags, but I'm willing to bet we have all seen or had them save lives.
I think each situation is different, and I think even the best of equipment fails. My cousin would be dead today had she worn a seatbelt....but at the same token her mother was saved by wearing it. Seatbelts are just like every other safety tool, they can work and fail even when properly used.
I think the larger issue here isnt seatbelts themselves, but the common sense and intelligence shown by people who drive. You simply dont let a toddler roam the car, if you are too short to reach the pedals you shouldnt be driving the car, if your car is malfunctioning do not continue to drive it.....
If we could resolve more and more of those issues, I think the seat belt issue wouldnt be thrust up at the rest of us so much. Seat belts do save lives....but they also dont prevent accidents.....and that's the issue we should concern ourselves with....
if i read this correctly i think i agree with everything said here.
#29
10-03-2005, 08:35 PM
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RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
Found this on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website: This is just a quote taken from the pamplet addressed "Initiatives to Address Safety Belt Use" dated July 2003.
Here is the link to the article NHTSA
This money can be used else where in my opinion. But I do agree that more time needs to be devoted to the practice of safer learning. In Germany they are really strict on driving!
Traffic crashes are not only a grave public health concern for our Nation, but also significant economic burden. Traffic crashes cost our economy approximately $230 Billion in 2000, or 2.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. This translates to an annual average of $820 for every person living in the United States.
This money can be used else where in my opinion. But I do agree that more time needs to be devoted to the practice of safer learning. In Germany they are really strict on driving!
#30
10-04-2005, 12:04 AM
RE: Nearly everyone's buckling up
ORIGINAL: 2coff
You have change my mind I'm never wearing one again.
You have change my mind I'm never wearing one again.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't wear seat belts. Just that in my case, it wouldn't have saved me, it would have killed me.
BTW, I was driving good. There is nothing you can do when didn't have monry for tires and they were bald. Switched lanes in hard rain, and hydroplained.
