Do you think seat belts save lives?

[jims69camaro]

well, like the question states, do you think they save lives? i should probably make two polls, one for today's cars and one for classic cars. but, i think, since we probably own both (k, most of us do) then it should include our experiences in both types of cars.

looking at the photos of the dead Judge makes me want to put a roll cage in the '69. now, that would save a life.

[BigRocsFirebird]

i think yes deppending on the crash. where you get hit or what you hit and how you hit it. it could save your life.

[Miles]

It depends. If you are wearing a seatbelt and your car gets jammed in between something and goes up in flames, and the seatbelt gets stuck, then you can't get out. You might be in a little bit of a situation.
But at the same time, if you roll over or something like that, then the seatbelt can save you from tossing around inside or possibly outside the car.

From helping my father with the tow trucking business, and other tow truck drivers themselves, can tell you that they have seen both sides of this questions numerous times.

[mc73nova]

I think it depends on the situation.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

[LTb1ow]

Def like my seatbelt, feel un secure without it. Guess that is what you get for a lifetime of being told to wear one.

However, getting stuck in a car on fire due to a tied up belt is a reason I carry a knife. But going through the windshield is no good.

[WildBillyT]

Jim,

I think your poll may be better written as "Do more good than harm"... whaddya think? Want me to change it?

I figure they save and kill, but more good than bad.

[Miles]

Def like my seatbelt, feel un secure without it. Guess that is what you get for a lifetime of being told to wear one.

However, getting stuck in a car on fire due to a tied up belt is a reason I carry a knife. But going through the windshield is no good.

Very true about the knife. More people should do it, but it will probably be used in the wrong way at somepoint.

[LTb1ow]

Off topic but yea... again, always prepared been driven into my head too... LOL

[Saitin]

seats belts are situational and that is it, IMO they do just as much good as they do bad....

[LTb1ow]

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811036.PDF

Pretty convincing...

[12secondv6]

I've been in the fire dept for 14 years
Countless training classes at various fire academies (nj, ny, pa etc)
Pursued a degree in fire science
Seen tons of car accidents
Been involved in many extrications
And been in two recent nasty car accidents

I have yet to see a situation where the seat belt caused the person to die.

I have yet to see a car explode/ burst into flames like in the movies.

Every instance I have seen where the occupants have not worn seat belts have always been hurt bad..... or died. I've seen people ejected from cars.

For me, I will ALWAYS wear a seat belt and anyone who gets in a car with me must wear a belt (I realize that someone is going to crack a joke about getting in a car w/ me etc)

[WildBillyT]

seats belts are situational and that is it, IMO they do just as much good as they do bad....

No WAY is it a 50/50 proportion.

[Saitin]

Maybe not 50/50 but I bet it is up there.

I've seen wrecks where people have died from getting a arm/leg/head caught in the belt or just have the belt malfunction and hold tight, most of those are from fires,cars in water, or side impacts.
seat belts help in smaller accidents sure but alot of fender benders most people would walk away from with minimal injuries anyways

[LTb1ow]

So your saying that until there is a perfect safety restraint system, all other systems should be deemed too dangerous to use?

[BurninrubberGT]

ive never heard of a seat belt doing harm, and you hear all the time about people dieing in accidents because they didnt wear it, or only survived because they wore their seatbelt

my buddy was tboned at ~60mph on his side last year....there was no way he would have lived if he didnt have his belt on

[LTb1ow]

Well a seatbelt focus the momentum of your body into pretty small areas across your chest and abdomen, I can see how people could sustain pretty nasty injures from sudden impacts. However, you can have broken bones etc fixed, broken bodies/skulls are tough...

[Saitin]

So your saying that until there is a perfect safety restraint system, all other systems should be deemed too dangerous to use?

Never said that, just saying in cases they do kill, just a lot more then you here about on the news.
I put mine on every time I get in a car no matter if I am driving or not.
all it is is a precaution it might help it might not.

[LTb1ow]

I agree, but their benefits far exceed their downfalls... IMO of course.

[Miles]

Okay well once you get out of that seatbelt, you need to open the door. How about those automatic locks?

[LTb1ow]

Hammer to window. Der.

[baddest434]

i think seat belts save more lives, then cause deaths. i wear it as does anyone who rides with me.

wearing a 5 point harness makes me feel even more safer.

[Miles]

Well i dunno about you, i dont carry a hammer in my car

[LTb1ow]

You should. I always have random tools in my car...

[BonzoHansen]

The overwhelming statistics is they do save lives. It's a no brainer. If the argument is the seat belt hurts, my guess is it hurts less than the dashboard/windshield/steering wheel.

Anyone who argues otherwise is pissing in the wind and is only really crying about it being law instead of personal choice. And is in fact the reason the law exists.

Now, if you want to talk about lap bets and such in old cars, no I hate them. My Camaros will get F&R 3 points.

[Frosty]

i think seat belts save more lives, then cause deaths. i wear it as does anyone who rides with me.


:werd:

[WildBillyT]

i think seat belts save more lives, then cause deaths. i wear it as does anyone who rides with me.

wearing a 5 point harness makes me feel even more safer.

5 pts are safer, unless you do this:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e186/double_overdrive496/kevins678.jpg

[BonzoHansen]

5 pts are safer, unless you do this:



Safer if installed correctly (as you noted) and in conjunction with a cage. W/O a cage they maybe be quite the detriment in a rollover.

[FIcamaroRE92]

they save lives.
as a firefighter (most do) I carry a seat belt knife which cuts it in like a hot knife through butter.

[V]

ive seen a 2 or 3 accidents where the lack of using seatbelts saved the drivers life, but yes those are rare. One was my friends 91 dodge daytona, T-boned in the drivers side by some lady doing 50mph through a stop sign. the daytonas driver door was pushed to the center of the car and my friend who was 5"2" was thrown into the passenger seat where he just got a concussion. the drivers seat was crushed to about 4" wide.

personally i always wear my seatbelt, it my SS its one less thing to get hassled about and in my sky.. i dunno i just do. I used to not wear seatbelts ever but in the past 4-5 years unknowingly i started. Id like 5points in my SS but not sure which ones to choose and mount them properly to my roll bar and to the floor, gotta look into that.

Not really related and a lil off topic, .....As for at work here, if you dont wear it, your just stupid. I wear a harness with a 5point type of camlock and then thats all connected to the floor by means of another strap with a quick release. We are all issued seatbelt cutters too which i wear on the front of my vest. Now true... we dont worry about accidents, our trucks would crush anythign here and it would feel like a speed bump to us, but when we took an IED, that belt kept me in the truck and everyone else from flying around. Other cases here not so good. You talk about people getting ejected in car acidents through the front windsheild... now imagine the force to eject a person who DID have their seatbelt on through 3" think bullet proof glass.

[jims69camaro]

Very true about the knife. More people should do it, but it will probably be used in the wrong way at somepoint.

they sell a special tool that has a hammer head (for breaking your window to escape) and a very sharp razor set inside of it (like a letter opener). i've not seen prices, i just know someone got one for a gift a few christmases ago. they haven't had to use it, so i don't know how well it works. it seems like a very sturdy piece and looks as if it would work if you had your wits about you. you're in trouble no matter what if you get knocked on the noodle and are dizzy.

and, no, i'll pass on the change. people seem to be responding well to the way it is worded. thanks, tho.

[jims69camaro]

my buddy was tboned at ~60mph on his side last year....there was no way he would have lived if he didnt have his belt on

maybe i am not imagining this accident properly. if he was hit on his side, and the car was doing +/- 60 mph, how did his seatbelt have anything to do with him surviving? as i see it, it held him in place while the other car did the damage to his door, maybe pushing the door in quite a bit, and the deathbelt did what, exactly?

in newer cars, seatbelt technology is improving. that is why i voted 'yes'. older cars with just a lap belt or the older style shoulder belts do almost nothing to protect you and everything to cause injuries. those with older cars know what i mean. i have yet to use the seat belt in the '69. knock on wood, no accidents yet with it, and hope i never do, but i won't be injured by the seatbelt.

[Miles]

they sell a special tool that has a hammer head (for breaking your window to escape) and a very sharp razor set inside of it (like a letter opener). i've not seen prices, i just know someone got one for a gift a few christmases ago. they haven't had to use it, so i don't know how well it works. it seems like a very sturdy piece and looks as if it would work if you had your wits about you. you're in trouble no matter what if you get knocked on the noodle and are dizzy.

Yeah I have seen it as well. Seems to serve its purpose, have yet to see someone use it in action though.

[Squirrel]

i went from 30 to 0 instantaneously in my old TA and i walked out without a scratch on my body except for a burn from the airbag on the inside of my forearm, the airbag hitting my face hurt more than the seatbelt locking

[91chevywt]

Theres instances where seatbelts can save lives and vice versa, I usually wear mine myself. Only thing is, the state shouldn't ticket you when not wearing a seatbelt in my opinion. Should be a choice. But thats a whole different can of worms.

[Savage_Messiah]

i went from 30 to 0 instantaneously in my old TA and i walked out without a scratch on my body except for a burn from the airbag on the inside of my forearm, the airbag hitting my face hurt more than the seatbelt locking

kinda same thing with my camaro, except i was going 20 or 25

[miketa95]

Okay well once you get out of that seatbelt, you need to open the door. How about those automatic locks?

I was thinking the same. I hate how my truck does that, and I wish there was a way to turn it off. I do know a story of someone surviving only because of not wearing the seat belt, but that was a low speed, single car, freak accident. In any normal driving type of crash, I think a seat belt would save a life 9 times out of ten.

[NJ Torque]

Yes, I wear mine.

[BonzoHansen]

I was thinking the same. I hate how my truck does that, and I wish there was a way to turn it off. I do know a story of someone surviving only because of not wearing the seat belt, but that was a low speed, single car, freak accident. In any normal driving type of crash, I think a seat belt would save a life 999,999 times out of 1,000,000.Fixed

In most cars can't you program out the auto locks? I'm pretty sure the owners manual for my olds shows how.

[bubba428]

I only say no only because in my accident. if I had been wearing my seat belt, it would have broken my neck. granted 90% of the time seat belts do save lives, I just don't feel safe wearing one being that most seats are designed for the average height person. When I wear a seat belt it tends to ride along my neck because of that. just my opinion.

[BonzoHansen]

So you disagree that seat belts save lives even though you say 90% of the time seat belts do save lives? How is it you determined you would have broken your neck?

Newer cars all seem to have adjustable belts now. Are you short?

[Miles]

Fixed

In most cars can't you program out the auto locks? I'm pretty sure the owners manual for my olds shows how.

In some cars from a couple years ago you were able to completely shut them off. In my 07 Tahoe I was only able to change when they lock (when shifted from park or after 15mph).

[miketa95]

Fixed

In most cars can't you program out the auto locks? I'm pretty sure the owners manual for my olds shows how.

Idk if its possible. My car didn't come with an owners manual and I've never seen anything when messing with the buttons.

[Savage_Messiah]

Are you short?

I am.... should I not wear seatbelts? most fit fine on me

[LTb1ow]

I am.... should I not wear seatbelts? most fit fine on me

Well yea, I guess you rock one of these?

http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:8HqhefeB7U9KzM:http://www.automk.com/media/2007/09/sauber_f1_baby_seat.jpg

[BonzoHansen]

I am.... should I not wear seatbelts? most fit fine on meI think so. I'm just trying to figure out why bubba's tend to ride along his neck?

[WildBillyT]

maybe i am not imagining this accident properly. if he was hit on his side, and the car was doing +/- 60 mph, how did his seatbelt have anything to do with him surviving? as i see it, it held him in place while the other car did the damage to his door, maybe pushing the door in quite a bit, and the deathbelt did what, exactly?

in newer cars, seatbelt technology is improving. that is why i voted 'yes'. older cars with just a lap belt or the older style shoulder belts do almost nothing to protect you and everything to cause injuries. those with older cars know what i mean. i have yet to use the seat belt in the '69. knock on wood, no accidents yet with it, and hope i never do, but i won't be injured by the seatbelt.

Absolutely. The Nova only has lap belts up front... unsettling especially with no air bags, either.

Theres instances where seatbelts can save lives and vice versa, I usually wear mine myself. Only thing is, the state shouldn't ticket you when not wearing a seatbelt in my opinion. Should be a choice. But thats a whole different can of worms.

If the state wasn't required to pay for medical care/clean up after people who don't use their belt then I'd agree with you. But as it is now, we all pay if a dumb **** gets busted up for not using his or her belt.

I only say no only because in my accident. if I had been wearing my seat belt, it would have broken my neck. granted 90% of the time seat belts do save lives, I just don't feel safe wearing one being that most seats are designed for the average height person. When I wear a seat belt it tends to ride along my neck because of that. just my opinion.

I am 6' 3" and have never had this issue. How tall are you?

[BonzoHansen]

Billy I beleive you can get 3 points for your car. I know I can for my 67.

[WildBillyT]

Billy I beleive you can get 3 points for your car. I know I can for my 67.

I am absolutely doing so. No way am I keeping the lap belts only. I'm probably going to do LED taillights as well, since they are a little "small" for today's drivers.

[sweetbmxrider]

i notice in alot of cars around here, people have the hammers to break the glass out.

i always wear a seatbelt. always.

[Scrat's_Camaro]

i wear mine, saved my ass twice. once on a passenger side impact and one head on.

[79T/A]

when we took an IED, that belt kept me in the truck and everyone else from flying around. Other cases here not so good. You talk about people getting ejected in car acidents through the front windsheild... now imagine the force to eject a person who DID have their seatbelt on through 3" think bullet proof glass.


I like this, SS. I vote yes, and everyone else riding in my car better be wearing one too for the exact same reason. I wish I knew how to post video or that I could look for video here at work without getting c-blocked by our firewalls. The British put out a pretty graphic commercial years ago about the necessity of everyone wearing seatbelts. It demonstrates a 25 mile per hour collision (Or whatever that translates to in kilometers, but my instructor told us it was 25) in which the backseat passenger, who is not wearing his belt, is thrown into the front seat passenger, who is. The force generated by the backseat passenger's momentum was compared to the force of an elephant charging. Backseat passenger hits front seat passenger hard enough to kill them both. Dramatic? Absolutely, but entirely possible.

Remember that everything in your car that isn't secured is a projectile, including loose change, CDs, the Club, even small glass breaking hammers. Any of these items hitting you in the back of the head, even at 25 mph, can do a lot of damage.

As for the seatbelts, yeah, they save lives. They're designed to. Jim makes a great point about old cars vs. new cars. In the good ole days, the Big Three built giant tanks with rigid frames. The old timers will say, "Ah, the cars all crumple up in a crash these days and my old Buick got hit by a semi-truck and all I needed was a new headlight!" For those who don't know or understand (And this being a car forum, there probably aren't too many but I'll say it anyway), newer cars are designed to crumple up like an empty beer can. This way, the car absorbs a large portion of the energy and velocity in a crash. The older cars, while bigger, were built so solidly that a serious crash had a higher liklihood to end in a fatality, seatbelt or no seatbelt, due to internal injuries suffered during the crash.

Take a good look at your seatbelts. They are webbed. That is because in a serious crash, the belts themselves will stretch slightly with the movement of your body. Again, this transfers more energy and greatly reduces internal injuries. After a serious crash, it's imperative that the seatbelts are replaced. If it's serious enough, you will actually be able to see where the seatbelts stretched.

How good are they in side impacts? Better than nothing. Sure, there are side impacts serious enough to intrude into the car and kill someone. In many of those instances (SS's story aside), there's a greater liklihood that without the seatbelt, getting tossed around inside the car will severely injure or kill you. And the whole "car catching fire and doors being stuck shut" thing? Yes, it can happen, but chances are also high here that injuries would be such that you may or may not be able to get out of the car anyway.

Now, onto Bubba's accident. If it's the one I recall seeing on here, he was a passenger in his own second gen Trans Am. If I remember correctly, the car went off the road and slammed into a tree. Without that seatbelt, Bubba's one amazingly lucky S.O.B. I'm 6'2". I would imagine that the seat belt probably rides along the side of Bubba's neck. While it can and will leave a nasty burn or even a laceration along the side of your neck, it's not going to break it. Wear the belt.

[FIcamaroRE92]

79T/A~ heres the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWLmoeoHrP4