God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale

bblost · 27th March 2017, 13:50

Am so happy that your family managed walked away from such a scary experience.

I will share this thread with everyone who thinks that seatbelts are not mandatory and that kids can be left unrestrained. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Dipankar89 · 27th March 2017, 14:11

Glad to hear that you and your family are safe after this horrendous accident. As you said seat belt is the most basic and the most important safety equipment of the car, something that many of us while driving on highways forget to use thinking it is fine or thinking that there are no cops to fine us. Your accident is an eye opener for people who think in that way. Hope everyone stays as safe as possible while driving on highways.

suresh_gs · 27th March 2017, 14:21

Ravi

I spoke to you after you met with the accident. I was shocked and thanking GOD that no vehicle came in the opposite direction.
You have conveyed a very important message of WEARING SEAT BELTS. It is an eyeopener for everyone.

the_skyliner · 27th March 2017, 14:27

Sorry to hear about your accident but thanks a lot for sharing it here.
Hope it educates more people about the importance of wearing seat belts.

In the hindsight, do you think it would have been better to brake hard and hit the tyre at reduced speed than trying to avoid it? Not sure if there was enough time to bring the speed down hence asking.

Anyhow, glad to know you all are fine as the car looks real bad.

Stay safe.

NPV · 27th March 2017, 14:40

Ravi - Glad you all came out of this horrific accident without major injuries/fatalities.

Kudos to you for always wearing seat belts and also for insisting on the rear passengers wearing seat belts - that definitely helped in the outcome

manij · 27th March 2017, 15:05

Thanking God that you and your family are safe.

I completely understand how you felt and being able to see everything as the accident was happening and recall it. I was also caught in an accident few years back down the same stretch after Dharmapuri, in a vehicle without ABS or Airbags, due to my swerving suddenly to avoid a sign that was left behind on the road suddenly (after somewhat of a blind spot on the road) inadvertently pressing the brake and ending up with wheels locking /vehicle flying off the road / turning over couple of times /landing in a nearby field. When a related discussion comes up, I keeping telling anyone who listens to me that the only reason my family and me are alive today is because we wore seatbelts & God's grace.

Coming out of the ordeal will take time, but you will surely come out stronger!

My only advise is to keep your head down grounded in reality along with some other quiet activity to keep your interest going, go through the required steps like insurance procedures and spend time with your family. After my experience, everytime I saw my family alive and talking to me, I was very very thankful to God and his grace.

And again, I completely second / third /nth your faith in seat belts.

PraNeel · 27th March 2017, 15:06

Just want to say 2 things:

1. Thank GOD that all of you are safe! Moments like these make us believe his existence.
2. After reading your post and looking at the pictures, people who don't buckle up and don't think about safety will be forced to change their perspective.

hrman · 27th March 2017, 15:10

Sorry to hear about the accident, but thank God you are safe. Just makes one wonder, the stupidity of someone else causes so much harm and near fatal damage to some innocent person.
While I used to mandatorily wear the seatbelt while driving and insist on my front co passenger to also buckle up, I will insist on the rear passengers doing the same in my car from now on.

cunnuvila · 27th March 2017, 15:16

@ravib A miracle that you guys walked out of that! Truly blessed. Welcome to the second life. Stay safe, drive safe.

rajathv8 · 27th March 2017, 15:20

Thanks a ton for sharing. I plan to take a print out and keep it in my car. It should serve as good reading for anyone who argues to not wear a seat belt while sitting in the rear seat on a highway trip.

While the damage to the front right can be isolated to the tyre burst/climbing the divider, how did so much damage occur to the boot and rear roof?

bhaskaracs · 27th March 2017, 15:29

I wonder Prahlad saw 'Vishnu' inside a pillar; how he stepped out of a seat belt...

On a serious note, congratulations to your family for putting a strong 'safety process' in place when you are long drives. The 'process' is what a lot of families skip exposing themselves. Have a robust process in place - everybody please.

Mahven · 27th March 2017, 15:37

Thank goodness man!

From a fellow Bangalorean, I feel happy for the grace you had on that day and I wish your family gets over the shock quickly. The photo of your car standing in the opposite lane is truly scary. Keep us posted further.

carwatcher · 27th March 2017, 16:03

Glad to see that you and your family are safe.

Your act of taking time and effort to make others learn from your experience and trust in seat-belts is what make me feel very proud of you. Take a bow.

At the same time, had you didn't swerve and hit the tyre at lower speed and then Airbags deploying would also have also resulted in total loss.

Also if the car would have hit other vehicle from the opposite lane, then the things would've been really terrible for not only you and your family but for that other vehicle too. That's where the God and your luck came into play.

I would also like to specifically point that had your speed been 80-90 compared to 100-110 as mentioned by you, you would've been in far better control. Its not about safe speed but the forces that got multiplied with small increase.

hamster · 27th March 2017, 16:31

The Lord & Luck have been with you and your family and let them be with you throughout.
I am going to forward this thread personally to my near & dear to understand the importance of life saving seat-belts.

Mods, can this thread be made available in FB as well, so that the word spreads more.

vigneshkumar31 · 27th March 2017, 16:44

God Bless your family Ravi!

It's your good practices of belting up all occupants and using child seat that are really commendable. Leave this bad memory behind you and wish you and your family a happy and long life. Bless your daughter, it must have been traumatising on the young mind. Reassure the brave little one and tell her all will be well.

Variants and affordability debates go on in our minds endlessly when we are in the buying stage, but no amount of money can fathom the lives saved after such an incident. Airbags, Seatbelts Usage, and Child Seats are the bare minimum we have to ensure in our cars.

God bless you!

27th March 2017, 13:50	#16
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,006 Thanked: 15,318 Times View My Garage	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Am so happy that your family managed walked away from such a scary experience. I will share this thread with everyone who thinks that seatbelts are not mandatory and that kids can be left unrestrained. Thanks a lot for sharing.
	(8) Thanks

27th March 2017, 14:11	#17
Dipankar89 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Delhi Posts: 5 Thanked: 3 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Glad to hear that you and your family are safe after this horrendous accident. As you said seat belt is the most basic and the most important safety equipment of the car, something that many of us while driving on highways forget to use thinking it is fine or thinking that there are no cops to fine us. Your accident is an eye opener for people who think in that way. Hope everyone stays as safe as possible while driving on highways.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 14:21	#18
suresh_gs Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: KA-01 / TN-22 Posts: 2,158 Thanked: 1,434 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Ravi I spoke to you after you met with the accident. I was shocked and thanking GOD that no vehicle came in the opposite direction. You have conveyed a very important message of WEARING SEAT BELTS. It is an eyeopener for everyone.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 14:27	#19
the_skyliner BHPian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pune Posts: 868 Thanked: 1,522 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Sorry to hear about your accident but thanks a lot for sharing it here. Hope it educates more people about the importance of wearing seat belts. In the hindsight, do you think it would have been better to brake hard and hit the tyre at reduced speed than trying to avoid it? Not sure if there was enough time to bring the speed down hence asking. Anyhow, glad to know you all are fine as the car looks real bad. Stay safe.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 14:40	#20
NPV Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 7,219 Thanked: 10,258 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Ravi - Glad you all came out of this horrific accident without major injuries/fatalities. Kudos to you for always wearing seat belts and also for insisting on the rear passengers wearing seat belts - that definitely helped in the outcome
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:05	#21
manij BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 104 Thanked: 102 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Thanking God that you and your family are safe. I completely understand how you felt and being able to see everything as the accident was happening and recall it. I was also caught in an accident few years back down the same stretch after Dharmapuri, in a vehicle without ABS or Airbags, due to my swerving suddenly to avoid a sign that was left behind on the road suddenly (after somewhat of a blind spot on the road) inadvertently pressing the brake and ending up with wheels locking /vehicle flying off the road / turning over couple of times /landing in a nearby field. When a related discussion comes up, I keeping telling anyone who listens to me that the only reason my family and me are alive today is because we wore seatbelts & God's grace. Coming out of the ordeal will take time, but you will surely come out stronger! My only advise is to keep your head down grounded in reality along with some other quiet activity to keep your interest going, go through the required steps like insurance procedures and spend time with your family. After my experience, everytime I saw my family alive and talking to me, I was very very thankful to God and his grace. And again, I completely second / third /nth your faith in seat belts.
	(2) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:06	#22
PraNeel BHPian Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Jaipur Posts: 670 Thanked: 1,996 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Just want to say 2 things: 1. Thank GOD that all of you are safe! Moments like these make us believe his existence. 2. After reading your post and looking at the pictures, people who don't buckle up and don't think about safety will be forced to change their perspective.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:10	#23
hrman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,128 Thanked: 1,015 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Sorry to hear about the accident, but thank God you are safe. Just makes one wonder, the stupidity of someone else causes so much harm and near fatal damage to some innocent person. While I used to mandatorily wear the seatbelt while driving and insist on my front co passenger to also buckle up, I will insist on the rear passengers doing the same in my car from now on.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:16	#24
cunnuvila BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Kollam Posts: 48 Thanked: 53 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale @ravib A miracle that you guys walked out of that! Truly blessed. Welcome to the second life. Stay safe, drive safe.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:20	#25
rajathv8 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 380 Thanked: 760 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Thanks a ton for sharing. I plan to take a print out and keep it in my car. It should serve as good reading for anyone who argues to not wear a seat belt while sitting in the rear seat on a highway trip. While the damage to the front right can be isolated to the tyre burst/climbing the divider, how did so much damage occur to the boot and rear roof?
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:29	#26
bhaskaracs BHPian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Chennai Posts: 212 Thanked: 184 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale I wonder Prahlad saw 'Vishnu' inside a pillar; how he stepped out of a seat belt... On a serious note, congratulations to your family for putting a strong 'safety process' in place when you are long drives. The 'process' is what a lot of families skip exposing themselves. Have a robust process in place - everybody please. Last edited by bhaskaracs : 27th March 2017 at 15:32.
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 15:37	#27
Mahven BHPian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 74 Thanked: 230 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Thank goodness man! From a fellow Bangalorean, I feel happy for the grace you had on that day and I wish your family gets over the shock quickly. The photo of your car standing in the opposite lane is truly scary. Keep us posted further. Last edited by Mahven : 27th March 2017 at 15:40. Reason: Grammer
	(1) Thanks

27th March 2017, 16:03	#28
carwatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bardez, Goa Posts: 1,184 Thanked: 1,032 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale Glad to see that you and your family are safe. Your act of taking time and effort to make others learn from your experience and trust in seat-belts is what make me feel very proud of you. Take a bow. At the same time, had you didn't swerve and hit the tyre at lower speed and then Airbags deploying would also have also resulted in total loss. Also if the car would have hit other vehicle from the opposite lane, then the things would've been really terrible for not only you and your family but for that other vehicle too. That's where the God and your luck came into play. I would also like to specifically point that had your speed been 80-90 compared to 100-110 as mentioned by you, you would've been in far better control. Its not about safe speed but the forces that got multiplied with small increase.
	(5) Thanks

27th March 2017, 16:31	#29
hamster BHPian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: CSK Posts: 167 Thanked: 190 Times	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale The Lord & Luck have been with you and your family and let them be with you throughout. I am going to forward this thread personally to my near & dear to understand the importance of life saving seat-belts. Mods, can this thread be made available in FB as well, so that the word spreads more.
	(2) Thanks

27th March 2017, 16:44	#30
vigneshkumar31 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Goa Posts: 754 Thanked: 5,821 Times View My Garage	Re: God's Grace! Seatbelts, child seat & safe car - An accident survivor's tale God Bless your family Ravi! It's your good practices of belting up all occupants and using child seat that are really commendable. Leave this bad memory behind you and wish you and your family a happy and long life. Bless your daughter, it must have been traumatising on the young mind. Reassure the brave little one and tell her all will be well. Variants and affordability debates go on in our minds endlessly when we are in the buying stage, but no amount of money can fathom the lives saved after such an incident. Airbags, Seatbelts Usage, and Child Seats are the bare minimum we have to ensure in our cars. God bless you!
	(1) Thanks