Do you wear seat belts ?

[nurdlinger]

PTCruiser reminded me...

My Dad was another grew-up-in-the-depression, served-in-WWII, rugged individualist. Here's what happened on his last outing as an automobile driver. Low-speed impact with a tree. Continued next message...

 

[nurdlinger]

The circular crack pattern....

is where his head hit the front window. He suffered a stroke and a hematoma. He survived, but was hospitalized and bewildered for months. It resulted in his moving from his own home to assisted living. The loss of independence would have killed him, had he not been in such a fog from the injuries.

 

[seeitrun2006]

Always

I feel naked without it!

 

[hunter]

I'm not saying 'don't wear seatbelts'

I am saying 'NO!' to further expansion of state power.

It's a very western US thing.

 

[brisnat81]

Hunter I think the Aussie attitude at least comes from Seatbelt wearing having beeen the law for 35 years here.

I grew up in the country and when I was five we were doing the 50km trip home at night from visiting dad in hospital after back surgery. The road was single lane asphalt with dirt shoulders to allow cars to pass and a 100km/h speed limit. There were twin single lane bridges about halfway along and as we came onto the second bridge an old guy in a mid 60's Holden came towards us drunk, with no seatbelt and no headlights on. He didnt slow down, Mum started to brake, but it was a head on collission at 100km/h.

I was in a booster seat with a harness and came out of it with a terrifying fear of getting into a car at night again, mum was unconscious, had broken ribs glass cuts and a broken nose from where she hit the steering wheel when it deformed, but otherwise the seatbelt had stopped her hitting very much, even with the limited crashworthyness of a 1981 Ford Falcon and the deformation that occured to the car.

It took years for me to get the vision of the old man shredded through the windscreen out of my head

This link is a modern incarnation and pretty non graphic of our TV ads, but as a kid in the 90's especially after what had happened when I was younger, there was one ad in particular that covered off Speeding and not wearing seatbelts, I've linked it below. It used to terrify me.

This was on prime time TV with the theory being that it'd frighten the crap out of the Kids and make them the vocal annoyance that'd get their parents to buckle up.

These sort of ads are on TV all the time here still.

So my experiences from a young age have left me unable to comprehend why anyone would choose not to wear a seatbelt and even if they choose to, if their children arent secure, then they should be prosecuted.

 

[foraloysius]

I always use a seat belt. In the Netherlands it has been mandatory for the front row since 1975 and for the back seat since 1992. I have no problem with it being mandatory. The costs for society are way too high if a lot of people wouldn't wear them.

 

[alr2903]

You should always wear them, I saw Iheartmaytag mentioned airbags too. Of course i hope no one here ever experiences it, but the seatbelts also protect you from the airbags as well. Have you ever had these explode in your face? My point is the seat belts keep you in a postion to benefit from the airbag, the airbags in the 1990's Mazda's not only save your life, you get a complimentary dermabrasion. alr2903

 

[mixfinder]

With Reservations

I get a bit crazed when I discuss the progression of "good for you laws" since the seatbelt. I agree 100% that not wearing a seatbelt is stupid. Perhaps an escape clause for insurance like no seatbelt, no coverage would work as well. I fear the implementation of "good for you laws" are used to dumb down our reaction or question of "good for you laws" and now we have good for you laws like homeland security among many other invasive regulations that are "good for you" but allows for a bit too much control to suit me. I have had multiple neck surgeries and radiation which are aggrevated by the neck belt. After conferring with doctors and surgeons I have a waiver of the neck belt which I tuck under my arm.

 

[hunter]

I think it is stupid

NOT to wear seatbelts. I think it stupid NOT to wear helmets while biking (motor or human powered machine). I think it is stupid NOT to wear helmets while off roading in an ATV or a dirt bike. (Sorry I don't know what All Terrain Vehicles - 4 wheeled motorized conveyances are called for non USA readers).

But I do not believe in state compulsion for such things.

Why? Because it opens the door for more compulsion of the state. Consider this:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...s-in-knife-blitz/story-fn3dxity-1225827044671

In my opinion, this is APALLING. I never have less than 2 knives on me at any time - and mostly they are for things like slicing fruit! But yes, I do know how to use them for other things too. But I also carry a leatherman tool as I use it constantly, in addition to the folding knife I always have.

This is an expansion of state power that I find horrible. We have equal examples of abuse here in the USA - this is the one that simply leaps to mind so I am not dissing Australia!

Granting the state more and more power simply opens it up to continuous abuses.

 

[mixfinder]

Click It or Ticket

Washington State Patrol is gearing up for their annual Click It or Ticket Campaign over the Memorial Day Holiday. They are quoting studies pointing to 4 times more serious injury in accidents after dark when not wearing seatbelts. Less traffic, higher speeds, unfamiliar surroundings and driving after evening drinking may all point to the same statistics.

 

[hoover1100]

To be honest

I don't see how reducing the number of knives on the streets is an abuse of power, I see no reason for anyone to need to carry a knife on the street and see no reason why it should be legal to do so, it's too late to act when a knife crime has been committed, they must be prevented.

I guess it's a very American thing, I'm personally extremely grateful to live in a "welfare state" where I have a sense of security that I have the state to fall back on should I ever need it, I am also very much opposed to any reduction in the state provisions we have, but they have been reduced since the 80s sadly.

It seems that many Americans (and probably people from elsewhere too, but the only people I know with these views are American) put personal freedom and lack of Government control above health, wellbeing and safety for all, that's absolute insanity to me, but hey.

As far as wearing seatbelts is concearned, it's such a habit for me now that I put it on without thinking whenever I get in the car, even if I'm not going anywhere. Any legislation that makes people more inclined to wear one is good news in my eyes.

Matt

 

[hunter]

You can have health and welfare if you are in prision too...

...and I'd just as soon not, thank you.

The UK, with .2 percent of the world's population has...30 % of the world's surveillance cameras.

No thanks, I'll stick to my riskier life thanks

This is NOT for the security of the population it is to safeguard the security of the STATE.

In our land,our supreme court has ruled that Police do NOT exist to protect citizens but to protect the social order. In other words, there are no obligations to protect individuals.

No thanks, anytime the state wants to 'help' me it is not to help ME.

 

[hoover1100]

Well

The way I see it if your not doing anything wrong you don't have anything to worry about.

Perhaps this explains in part the high crime rate in the U.S. if people consider it their right to be able to carry a knife or some other weapon.

At the end of the day it's a totally different ideology and political viewpoint, I just find it near impossible to see how anyone can agree with ideas like this, I guess it dosen't matter if I understand it or not really, I'm just ever more grateful that I don't live in the U.S. (no offence intended on anyone, just my feelings based on what I know)

Matt

 

[hunter]

Not in the slightest.

No, I disagree with you completely.

Your implication is that it is perfectly okay to have any all parts of your life examined by the state 'simply because you aren't doing anything wrong.'

Actually, our crime rate is NOT that high. According to this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ry-Europe-Britain-worse-South-Africa-U-S.html

Your crime rate is per capita higher than ours, and even higher than South Africa.

No, you're encountering (with me) a very American thing - the idea that it is the State that should be limited and individuals free, no the other way around. The US constitution is NOT a document that grants rights - it limits government. Certain powers are delegated to the feds, others to our individual states, and most to the people.

It's only been in the last few decades we've lost our way.

 

[mixfinder]

The Most Contentious People on Earth

- creating disagreement: causing or likely to cause disagreement and disputes between people with differing views
- argumentative: frequently engaging in and seeming to enjoy arguments and disputes
- subject to litigation: contested by another interested party

It must have a taken a gutsy sort to set off to the New World in rickety old boats with no idea what the future held. Not here very long before the arguements began and it was decided I had to get further away so off into the wild and unknown territories I go. And so it went until the American people reached border to border. Willfulness, courage, and perhaps a short fuse lies deep with the hard wiring of our DNA. I am ready to leave America tired of the endless political rhetoric, well meaning but poorly administered environmental laws and a watered down justice system that has no teeth, oppresive taxation and lies and mistatements of truth on a daily basis from the government. I truly have nothing to hide and if you take the time to read the thousands of words I've posted you know all my secrets. It is the insidious mix of goof for you and good for us laws, restrictions and information the government has come to require. Seat belts have nothing to do with it nor does gun control. Regardless of the crime the support and protection is heaped on the perpetrator's rights and not the victim.

 

[hunter]

well that is an other issue.

Certainly one is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

But too many times the victimes get too much short shrift.

 

[iheartmaytag]

if people consider it their right to be able to carry a knif

Oh we don't consider it a right. We know it is a right protected by the second ammendment of the Constitution. We also have CCW's.

But then again that is a little off base from the discussion of seat belts, which BTW do not interfear with anyone's rights because driving is a previledge not a right, so no infrigement.

 

[ronhic]

mmmmm

It always seems to end up in an argument....

Hunter, most citizens of western country's will disagree on the whole knife/gun issue, particularly European and Commonwealth ones.

If Americans feel it is their right(and I use 'feel' as I know there is/has been debate about the actual constitutions meaning),empowered, required, necessary or even more comfortable walking down the street with a concealed weapon on their person, I don't care....

...but when in this, or any other country, people WILL do as the law says and that, in this instance, is to not carry CONCEALED weapons...and there will be a definition that the newspaper failed to include in that article, though it will also be to some degree at the discretion of the police/security as to what knife is a weapon and not a fruit-knife...flick knives, for example are banned completely...

...and the circumstances will be different too...

A small gang of young men say with a knife in their pocket

V's

business woman/man with small knife in a s lunch box...

Personally, I'm with Matt. Give me over-arching protection via the law and let the individuals that get break those laws and get caught provide justification why they did...

Oh, and yes, Britain is the most watched nation on earth...but if you're not doing anything wrong, who cares?

 

[ronhic]

mmmmm

It always seems to end up in an argument....

Hunter, most citizens of western country's will disagree on the whole knife/gun issue, particularly European and Commonwealth ones.

If Americans feel it is their right(and I use 'feel' as I know there is/has been debate about the actual constitutions meaning),empowered, required, necessary or even more comfortable walking down the street with a concealed weapon on their person, I don't care....

...but when in this, or any other country, people WILL do as the law says and that, in this instance, is to not carry CONCEALED weapons...and there will be a definition that the newspaper failed to include in that article, though it will also be to some degree at the discretion of the police/security as to what knife is a weapon and not a fruit-knife...flick knives, for example are banned completely...

...and the circumstances will be different too...

A small gang of young men say with a knife in their pocket

V's

business woman/man with small knife in a s lunch box...

Personally, I'm with Matt. Give me over-arching protection via the law and let the individuals that get break those laws and get caught provide justification why they did...

Oh, and yes, Britain is the most watched nation on earth...but if you're not doing anything wrong, who cares?

 

[iheartmaytag]

Not arguing

It just was puzzling to me how a seat belt thread turned into a "We're better than you" thread. It's been 235 years, we ran away, get over it.

“ A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ”

[this post was last edited: 5/26/2010-10:24]