How about wearing seatbelts?

bblost · 17th September 2009, 11:52

Recently I did something stupid.
Pushed my wagon r into a turn at a speed not quite correct for that turn.

The car started a power slide.
I am sure that if I did not have my seat belt on, I would have slipped off the seat.
I was anyways getting pushed into the door.
The seat belt ensured I was firmly held in place while controlling the steering and praying.

Aditya · 17th September 2009, 12:17

I don't feel comfortable driving a car without a seat belt. So, city or highway, I always wear it. I also make sure that the person sitting in the passenger seat wears his belt.
On the highway, if the car has rear seatbelts, I make sure that the passengers in the rear seat wear theirs too. I'm not very particular about this in the city.

suhaas307 · 17th September 2009, 12:26

I have seen plenty of cabbies in Bangalore who pull the seat belt right to their hips, but refuse to lock it in place. If they can do that much, why don't they go all the way?

A friend of mine once told me that when they do meet with an accident that they're responsible for, they can make a quick getaway from their seat and this wouldn't be possible if the seat belt is locked in place! The nerve!

bblost · 17th September 2009, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by suhaas307

A friend of mine once told me that when they do meet with an accident that they're responsible for, they can make a quick getaway from their seat and this wouldn't be possible if the seat belt is locked in place! The nerve!

The stupidity.

Ask your foolish friend to google for
Seatbelts Ejected

I hate people who ignore science in this case Newton's laws over their own ignorant gut feel.

Thad E Ginathom · 17th September 2009, 12:51

For everyone who thinks that seat belts are not necessary for city driving; just how fast do you think you need to be going before you risk rearranging your face and bones, possibly fataly, in an accident?

For everyone who thinks that rear seatbelts are not necessary, or only for highways, watch this:

YouTube - Seatbelt - Julie Knew Her Killer - UK Advert

suhaas307 · 17th September 2009, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

The stupidity.

Ask your foolish friend to google for
Seatbelts Ejected

I hate people who ignore science in this case Newton's laws over their own ignorant gut feel.

He was actually referring to the cab drivers in Bangalore when I had mentioned the same thing to him. He injected some humor into it. He said that the cabbies don't fasten their seat belts because they can make a quick getaway from their seat in the even of an accident that they're responsible for

n.devdath · 17th September 2009, 13:20

These are the steps I follow:
1. Unlock the car.
2. Get into the driver's seat.
3. Close the door and lock it from inside.
4. Fasten the seatbelt.
5. Start the engine.
6. Check/tell front passenger to fasten his/her seatbelt compulsorily.
7. Check rearview mirrors and side mirrors
8. Have a quick look at the dashboard and drive.

By doing this, my car has idled for some time, and I m comfortable in the seat.
I insist on the front passenger wearing the seatbelt if it is my car,and the rear passengers on a ring road or a highway.
If I m sitting in someones car, I wear my belt and tell the owner/driver to wear it only once. The rest is left to him/her as I have seen egos bruised if I stretch the point with them.

Thad E Ginathom · 17th September 2009, 13:44

Quote:

I insist on the front passenger wearing the seatbelt if it is my car,and the rear passengers on a ring road or a highway.

Then you put your own life at risk on other roads. See Youtube above.

TheDoors · 17th September 2009, 13:46

I have been using seat bealts since 1998 and has become a habit. Actually I find something is missing if my seat belt is not on. I make sure that family members in the front are buckled up. If it is a friend or a relative I insist that they put it on, but leave it if they are adamant about not wearing one. On the highway I try to ensure that even the back seat passengers are buckled up.

Strangely I have a cousing of mine who probably spent 30 years of his life in India and the last 10 years abroad. For him it is kind of funny why drivers in India buckle up in city driving conditions. He rarely buckles up while in India. More of an attitude problem.

A school friend of mine lost his wife and 4 year old kid in city driving conditions. My friend was doing about 40-50km while the culprit, yellow board cab driver in a Tavera, coming in the opposite direction and overtaking from the worng side banged into his car at more than 80-90kmph. The kid being in the back seat was not wearing a seat belt. She was literally thrown across to the front windsheild and had a fatal head injury.

Many a times I have seen cars with airbags and children in the front seats. The families in such seem to well educated and decent. The manual clearly mentions that children can be killed in case of a collison and airbag deployment. Wonder if it ignorance or arrogance

tj123 · 17th September 2009, 13:53

There is no question of not wearing a seat belt for me. More of it’s a habit for me.
On Highways I insist that all members front & rear are belted. In normal city ride condition I insist that the front seat passengers must use seat belts.

Bapu · 17th September 2009, 16:33

I generally am alone on the drives ( routine daily commute is 150Kms) and wear the seat belt the moment i start the car. With family, it's compulsory for the Front seat passenger to wear a seat belt.
Somehow, they always object to the rear seats belt. Will have to followup i guess.

Very close Friends of mine were saved due to the seat belt and a friend lost his wife in the same accident.

jinojohnt · 18th September 2009, 10:45

I've seen videos where passengers without seatbelts are thrown-off and have their heads hit the other (belted) passengers. Guess it's risky for you even if your co-passsenger is not belted. Would post the link to such a video after googling

akhilesh51 · 18th September 2009, 11:56

Our New buy, VW Jetta, has a seat belt buzzer even for front passenger. An absolute delight when travelling with non-conforming elder family members.

18th September 2009, 12:13

I will insist on seat belt for front passenger and have never asked for rear passenger in city driving but from now on I will ask rear passengers also if speed is greater than 80 kmph.
My nephew and his wife were badly hit in skoda and they were sitting behind without wearing seat belt, their son was driving and daughter was in front passenger seat, were wearing seat belt and saved with miner injuries.

Thad E Ginathom · 18th September 2009, 22:15

Quote:

I will ask rear passengers also if speed is greater than 80 kmph.

Watch the video I posted. That is city-street driving, it would be a 40Kmh (well, 30MPH) limit, and reconsider that. Just, simply, make it an always!

View Poll Results: SEAT BELTS
Not very specific about wearing seat belts (including me)	7	4.58%
I definitely wear it. But will not insists others	24	15.69%
Will make sure both driver and passenger in front have to buckle. Will not insist on rear passenger	94	61.44%
I will make sure all the passengers have belted up	28	18.30%
Voters: 153. You may not vote on this poll

17th September 2009, 11:52	#46
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,355 Times View My Garage	Recently I did something stupid. Pushed my wagon r into a turn at a speed not quite correct for that turn. The car started a power slide. I am sure that if I did not have my seat belt on, I would have slipped off the seat. I was anyways getting pushed into the door. The seat belt ensured I was firmly held in place while controlling the steering and praying.
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 12:17	#47
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,841 Thanked: 77,069 Times View My Garage	I don't feel comfortable driving a car without a seat belt. So, city or highway, I always wear it. I also make sure that the person sitting in the passenger seat wears his belt. On the highway, if the car has rear seatbelts, I make sure that the passengers in the rear seat wear theirs too. I'm not very particular about this in the city.
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 12:26	#48
suhaas307 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,830 Thanked: 12,251 Times	I have seen plenty of cabbies in Bangalore who pull the seat belt right to their hips, but refuse to lock it in place. If they can do that much, why don't they go all the way? A friend of mine once told me that when they do meet with an accident that they're responsible for, they can make a quick getaway from their seat and this wouldn't be possible if the seat belt is locked in place! The nerve!
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 13:20	#52
n.devdath BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,287 Thanked: 2,811 Times	These are the steps I follow: 1. Unlock the car. 2. Get into the driver's seat. 3. Close the door and lock it from inside. 4. Fasten the seatbelt. 5. Start the engine. 6. Check/tell front passenger to fasten his/her seatbelt compulsorily. 7. Check rearview mirrors and side mirrors 8. Have a quick look at the dashboard and drive. By doing this, my car has idled for some time, and I m comfortable in the seat. I insist on the front passenger wearing the seatbelt if it is my car,and the rear passengers on a ring road or a highway. If I m sitting in someones car, I wear my belt and tell the owner/driver to wear it only once. The rest is left to him/her as I have seen egos bruised if I stretch the point with them.
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 13:46	#54
TheDoors BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 27 Thanked: 0 Times	I have been using seat bealts since 1998 and has become a habit. Actually I find something is missing if my seat belt is not on. I make sure that family members in the front are buckled up. If it is a friend or a relative I insist that they put it on, but leave it if they are adamant about not wearing one. On the highway I try to ensure that even the back seat passengers are buckled up. Strangely I have a cousing of mine who probably spent 30 years of his life in India and the last 10 years abroad. For him it is kind of funny why drivers in India buckle up in city driving conditions. He rarely buckles up while in India. More of an attitude problem. A school friend of mine lost his wife and 4 year old kid in city driving conditions. My friend was doing about 40-50km while the culprit, yellow board cab driver in a Tavera, coming in the opposite direction and overtaking from the worng side banged into his car at more than 80-90kmph. The kid being in the back seat was not wearing a seat belt. She was literally thrown across to the front windsheild and had a fatal head injury. Many a times I have seen cars with airbags and children in the front seats. The families in such seem to well educated and decent. The manual clearly mentions that children can be killed in case of a collison and airbag deployment. Wonder if it ignorance or arrogance
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 13:53	#55
tj123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BLR Posts: 1,148 Thanked: 680 Times	There is no question of not wearing a seat belt for me. More of it’s a habit for me. On Highways I insist that all members front & rear are belted. In normal city ride condition I insist that the front seat passengers must use seat belts.
	() Thanks

17th September 2009, 16:33	#56
Bapu BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 131 Thanked: 24 Times	I generally am alone on the drives ( routine daily commute is 150Kms) and wear the seat belt the moment i start the car. With family, it's compulsory for the Front seat passenger to wear a seat belt. Somehow, they always object to the rear seats belt. Will have to followup i guess. Very close Friends of mine were saved due to the seat belt and a friend lost his wife in the same accident.
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 10:45	#57
jinojohnt Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 794 Times	I've seen videos where passengers without seatbelts are thrown-off and have their heads hit the other (belted) passengers. Guess it's risky for you even if your co-passsenger is not belted. Would post the link to such a video after googling
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 11:56	#58
akhilesh51 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jaipur, RAJ Posts: 631 Thanked: 339 Times	Our New buy, VW Jetta, has a seat belt buzzer even for front passenger. An absolute delight when travelling with non-conforming elder family members.
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 12:13	#59
Shivashara Posts: n/a	I will insist on seat belt for front passenger and have never asked for rear passenger in city driving but from now on I will ask rear passengers also if speed is greater than 80 kmph. My nephew and his wife were badly hit in skoda and they were sitting behind without wearing seat belt, their son was driving and daughter was in front passenger seat, were wearing seat belt and saved with miner injuries. Last edited by Shivashara : 18th September 2009 at 12:23.
	() Thanks