Do you wear a seat-belt?

[kaji]

I have gotten in and out of my car so many times, its just automatic now. I dont even think about it. The same when other people are riding in my car, I ask everyone, even if I can see that they have them on.

[Doubleshadow]

Always. I have heard enough horror stories about people getting mangled because they were not wearing their seat belt to not risk serious injury by driving without it on.

[uc pseudonym]

It is my understanding that seatbelts are compulsory in all states+DC. (DC isn't technically a state)

If anyone knows a state where they aren't...

I'm fairly certain you're correct, but I also think that seatbelt laws are a state matter as opposed to a federal one. Therefore the penalties vary considerably. Here in Kansas they're relatively low, so I know some people who ignore them. I am not one of these.

[Mithrandir]

Mechana is right - Cali laws have major fines for violation of this law. As an interesting side note, fatalities resulting from crashes are going down despite the fact that the number and severity of crashes are going up. (The main reason severity is going up is the increase in speed limits).

[Shao Feng-Li]

Fine or no fine, I don't want to go through the windshield.

[mechana2015]

Mechana is right - Cali laws have major fines for violation of this law. As an interesting side note, fatalities resulting from crashes are going down despite the fact that the number and severity of crashes are going up. (The main reason severity is going up is the increase in speed limits).

Yay! I'm right!

Also partially to blame for the severity of the accedents also may be the fact that the speed limit is being increased on roads layed long ago (20 years or more) that were not designed for these speeds. I had a CHP officer quote to me that his car drifted 2-3 LANES going over an overpass during a high speed chase. Most race tracks that deal with higher speeds, but feature banked turns to counteract centrifical force acting on the car. While freeways (big, straight, long) are easier to negotiate and adjust for increased speeds, other roads (some highways and a lot of other roads) may have the limit increased to match proportions or something, with out being able to increase lane width or enact other safety measures.

[EricTheFred]

Seat-belts are compulsary here in Australia, but I find it suprising that the U.S (or at least most of it, among other countries) doesn't make them compulsary, and then they wonder why so many people die or are injured badly.

Actually, I suspect more states have compulsory seatbelt laws than not. The only reason there is no national law is that there isn't a national traffic law on anything (once upon a time we had a national speed limit, but that's gone). Traffic laws are handled by the States.
In Texas, I believe the current law is, compulsory in the front seat for all (unless you are in a car so old it has no belts) and in the entire vehicle for children (meaning under 17.) In addition, under a certain age and height, there is a compulsory safety seat (child seat) law as well.
Population-wise, if you add California (which has similar laws) and Texas together, you already have a significant chunk of the US. I'm pretty sure New York and Pennsylvania have similar laws, and by the time you've added all four states up, you are approaching half the country without even looking at the other 46. I didn't mention Florida, because I have no idea what law they have on this subject.

[Locke]

Always. California finage is really high.

"Click it or ticket"

[Mave]

Come on, how can one resist wearing a seatbelt with something cute like this on it?



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In all seriousness, I do have a cute bunny seatbelt cover, which helps to remind me to wear my seatbelt. Additionally, there's an annoying light that always pops at the dashboard to harass me to wear seatbelts. Now, I'm so used to wearing it that it just feels wrong not to click it.

[Lynx]

it's the law in my state, regardless of age, to wear your seatbelt, so yes.

[Mithrandir]

On that same note, my car continuously "dings" at me if I don't do it as soon as I put the keys in the ignition.

[EireWolf]

Always. It's just really stupid not to -- something so simple can save your life.

Incidentally, CA does mean California (which is also where I live).

[TallHobbit86]

yeah, seat belts are cool... i always use them when i'm driving and almost always when i'm the passenger...

[shooraijin]

My mom used not to wear one and thought they were silly -- until when they were vacationing in the Northern Territory (AU) last year and Mom rolled the car five times. They spent several days in hospital and Mom got to see the Flying Doctor Service like she had always wanted to -- except as a passenger, not as a tourist. Dad broke his collarbone and required about thirty stitches in his hand, and Mom injured her back, but it could have been a -lot- worse.

Now Dad won't even start the engine until she puts one on.

Having totalled my car a few years ago, I'm paranoid about them too.

[Scribs]

I always wear a seatbelt. However I do not think that there should be fines for people who do not, it is their life.

*Scribs realises that he is straying a little too close to politics so he drops his current line of thought*

[Syreth]

My car doesn't give me much of a choice. The seatbelt monster attacks you when you turn on the ignition (automatic shoulderbelts). Besides, it's just smart.

[TurkishMonky]

it's insurance cost, that's why it's required. (dropping subject like scribs, just in case it's too political)

[Slater]

I wear mine always. I mean, heck, it's safer and if you don't you could be pulled over and fined.

[soul alive]

I really should have chosen "other" but I picked "always." At college and anytime I'm driving anywhere other than around the cow pasture in the ranch truck, I'm wearing my seat belt. But I rarely ever am driving around on the ranch anymore, maybe twice a year at most, so it doesn't really count. ^_^

I've had too many people I've known get killed when they're not wearing seat belts, including a cousin, to not wear my belt.

I know it's law in Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, you see the signs everywhere "buckle up, it's the law."

I believe that not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense (?), that you can't be pulled over and ticketed for it alone, but if you get pulled over for something else and aren't wearing it, you can get ticketed.

[Kaligraphic]

That may just be practicality, because you really can't see if someone's wearing a lap belt unless you stick your head in the car - which really isn't recommended at any real speed. Yes, the combined lap-and-shoulder strap is pretty much all you can find in new vehicles these days, but even that takes some effort to see.

Officer 1: Okay, Bob, I'll drive, you stick your head out the window and look back to see if we pass someone who's not wearing a seatbelt.
Officer 2: Are you crazy?!? The way you drive, you'll probably clip my head off!!

And that's the end of that idea.

It's still a good idea to wear seatbelts, though - they were invented for a reason.

[Arnobius]

I'm another American who always wears their seat belt.

-On a side note: I believe Volvo in Sweden was the first to invent seat belts...

According to Wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cayley was the person to invent them. Wiki also has a whole page on them

[TurkishMonky]

I believe that not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense (?), that you can't be pulled over and ticketed for it alone, but if you get pulled over for something else and aren't wearing it, you can get ticketed.

in MI you can be pulled over for only not wearing your seatbelt.

[soul alive]

Huh. Must be in my area then.

[Puritan]

On the whole seatbelt invention issue: I am pretty sure Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt, the one that straps across your lap and your chest. The idea was around before, but they came up with a design that prevents you from flying out the window when you stop quickly.

[Icarus]

Always, Tx.

Our family used to have a van with seating for seven and belts for four. My mom rear ended someone at a low speed while I was sitting in the back. I wound up on the floor beside the drivers seat.

[Warrior4Christ]

Yay! I'm right!

Also partially to blame for the severity of the accedents also may be the fact that the speed limit is being increased on roads layed long ago (20 years or more) that were not designed for these speeds. I had a CHP officer quote to me that his car drifted 2-3 LANES going over an overpass during a high speed chase. Most race tracks that deal with higher speeds, but feature banked turns to counteract centrifical force acting on the car. While freeways (big, straight, long) are easier to negotiate and adjust for increased speeds, other roads (some highways and a lot of other roads) may have the limit increased to match proportions or something, with out being able to increase lane width or enact other safety measures.

I wish we got speed limit increases. We only get speed limit decreases.

[shooraijin]

in MI you can be pulled over for only not wearing your seatbelt.

And California.

[heero yuy 95]

Never. i prefer to live life on the fast lane. Yeah!!! Danger excites me!!!!!!!!!! Besides, seat belts are overrated.

[ashfire]

I can remember when I never wore a seatbelt because the 1956 Ford my father owned never had any and when he bought a 1967 Comet there they were and then we started wearing them.
Only other time not wearing a seat belt, on the school bus, in the cab of the fire engine while putting my fire coat and other gear on, and in the back of the ambulance while treating a patient or just not there or could not be used.
Well that brings me to why anyone should wear seat belts. Acourse not wearing seat belts on the fire enigine or ambulance is dangerous because of possible accidents and roll overs.
Rolling up on a accident scene finding a smashed up car with blood all over inside but no patient because they have been ejected somewhere around the scene and now is a hunt to find the victim or victims.
Worse thing is to be thrown from a car and ended up in high speed traffic and the vehicles not beable to stop or not see the victim.

[The Last Bard]

I've never been in a wreck, but I always wear my seatbelt. Maybe it's because my brother has wrecked his cars so many times...? That and I always hear about people flying thru windshields and stuff like that.