What is the real reason you wear a seatbelt?

[Dannie Boy]

The new Pajero Sport does have an audible warning if you don't put the seat belt on - mind you even on short journeys I always buckle up because as others have mentioned, they can be a life saver.

[Ratsima]

I always use them whenever they are available, even if I have to struggle to dig them out from behind the seat, or wherever. I don't feel comfortable without one. I was in a van from Ratsada Pier to Phuket Airport last week. Only the driver and I wore seat-belts; even though the van was well-equipped. I switched to Air Korat buses several years back because at that time they were the only company to equip their buses with belts.

I still have a scar on my face from a head-on car crash I was in as a kid (1956). If that vehicle had seat-belts I wouldn't be wearing that reminder today.

So, the real reason is that I'm sure I'm safer with a belt than without.

[HHTel]

Back to topic

Seatbelts are one of the most useful passive safety devices, there is no excuse not to use them, reminder or not. (Though I do sometimes frown at the regulation in Singapore where it is mandatory to use the rear seatbelts as well)

Active safety devices, on the other hand, can be downright dangerous (many airbags on a lot of cars are way over twelve years old and have been known to deploy without warning) and can lull the driver into a false sense of security (ABS, EBD etc).

My radar detector picked up a new Mazda at least ten car lengths behind the car (it's something they call lane-change detection and uses active radar built into the wing mirrors - and you thought your cell phone was zapping your brain..)

But I digress...

It's been mandatory for rear seat belts in the UK for years. The argument (which has evidence) is that in a crash, rear passengers can be propelled into the front seat and even the windscreen. If you're a driver wearing a seat belt and the person behind you isn't, then when he hits you, wearing a seat belt is not going to save you.


P.S. Love your post that starts off 'Back to topic' and finishes with 'But I digress'....lol

[Khundon1975]

Had a couple of accidents at speed over the years, not my fault I may add. Each time the car was a right off.

Both times the seatbelt, plus other driver safety aids, saved my life.

It really is a no brainer.

Or you could go down the Darwin route.

[HHCanuck]

Over 25 years ago in Canada my father was on a parts run in his company pick up a 14:00 hours. A drunk lady ran a stop sign hitting his pick up pushing it into the other lane where he was hit head on by a 10 wheel grain truck. The fender came through the windshield and partial scalped my father. The police at the scene said the only thing that saved him was the seat belt that preventing him from being decapitated. Also despite the massive trauma to his chest he didn't smoke so he had enough remaining uninjured lung tissue to keep him alive with oxygen from the paramedics.

Needless to say I always wear a seat belt if like many Bangkok taxis don't have the seat belt in the back I sit with the driver in the front.

[Khundon1975]

HHCanuck
"Needless to say I always wear a seat belt if like many Bangkok taxis don't have the seat belt in the back I sit with the driver in the front".

I hope not on his lap.

I think that most of those taxis that look like they don't have rear seat belts, actually do have them but they are hidden behind the seats.
Many a time I have gotten into a taxi in BKK and dug around the seat and found a pristine seat belt. Much to the chagrin of the driver.
If any taxi wants my money, (plus tip) they have to make me as safe as possible, whilst in their car.

[Frank Hovis]

Safety

These aren't adverts, these are real dashcam footage looking inside the car. Neither of these are gory, but you can see clearly that being strapped in is just better. These would be even more impressive if there had been two or more people in the car.


No seatbelt -

With seatbelt -

[Vital Spark]

Being brought up in the age of 'Clunk, Click, Every Trip' (with, I believe, the now infamous Jimmy Saville giving us this life-saving advice), I do it automatically. I feel extremely nervous if I'm in a taxi or a van that doesn't have seat belts. Watching some of the 'cops on the beat' programmes from the UK, I'm shocked to see people nowadays not using their seat belts. It's a 'no-brainer' as far as I'm concerned.

In answer to the title of this thread: I don't want to smash up my face, or die being flung from a car, in a crash.

VS

[Dannie Boy]

I doubt that the statistics exist, but it wouldn't surprise me if at least 50% of fatalities on Thai roads are of people not wearing seat belts.

[StevePIraq]

Everyone knows you have to wear a seat belt to stop you falling off you seat when you bend down to pick up the mobile phone you dropped which you were using while driving.

[hhinner]

I doubt that the statistics exist, but it wouldn't surprise me if at least 50% of fatalities on Thai roads are of people not wearing seat belts.

Isn't it something like 80% of fatalities are motorbike riders? No seatbelts! So in a way you're right.

[Dannie Boy]

I doubt that the statistics exist, but it wouldn't surprise me if at least 50% of fatalities on Thai roads are of people not wearing seat belts.

Isn't it something like 80% of fatalities are motorbike riders? No seatbelts! So in a way you're right.

I must admit that when I posted my comment I was only thinking of motorists as that was what the original post was about - wearing or not wearing seat belts, however I accept that motorbike riders make up the greatest % of fatalities.

[Ratsima]

It would be interesting to see road fatality and injury rates for Thailand with motorcycle stats removed.

[BOZ]

I drove an ambulance on for 10 years in NY state, the Taconic Parkway and I84 were part of my coverage area... I took many dead people out of wrecks, but never had to UNBUCKLE a seatbelt to do so... Enough said!!!!

[Khundon1975]

A few more seconds and the guy in the first video would have been fast asleep and not have known he had crashed.