Rollover accident with fatality: I-10 / Wild Horse Pass Rd.

[<3 Amber <3]

not to downplay wearing a seat belt, but I knew someone who was killed by the seat belt.
He was a back seat passenger in a 4 door sedan that hit one of those big, thick stop light poles at a rate of speed a little above the average speed limit. When car met pole, force of impact sent him flying forward so quickly and forcefully that seat belt  nearly decapitated him...he did die, but at least his head was still 1/4 of the way attached when rescue crews got there. They could've found just his head ejected from the car instead of his entire body....just sayin'

[Sam]

That happens sometimes.  There have been people who have lived through accidents because they were ejected from the vehicle, which then caught fire and burned to death all those who were stuck inside by their seatbelts.

Seatbelts are no guarantee.  More people have been saved by them than killed by them, however, so the odds are in their favor.

[mallardisme]

Tis true. Once in a blue moon it can cause the issue.
The statistics are very well lopsided to this line of thought, though. In 4 years, an esitmated 75,000 lives were saved due to seatbelt use.

I would not bet my life, or that of my familiy on a 1 in a million anomaly.

Here are some stats: http://is.gd/eQqgK (Source National Highway Traffic Safety Admistration)

Or here: http://is.gd/eQqQ5 (Source National Safety Council)

Seat belts save lives. While seat belt use has been increasing and averages 88 percent nationally, there are still groups less likely to wear seat belts:  teens, commercial drivers, males in rural areas, pick-up truck drivers, people driving at night, and people who have been drinking. Resources here include data, effective prevention, and links to national and state organizations working on this issue.
 
 
Seat Belts: Your Single Most Effective Safety Step

Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent. They save lives:

•Seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives from 2004 to 2008.
•Forty-two percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2007 were unbelted. A 2009 NHTSA study estimates more than 1,600 lives could be saved and 22,000 injuries prevented if seat belt use was 90 percent in every state.

[<3 Amber <3]

I do not dispute the stats and facts and absolutely agree that it is lopsided.
I would never tell someone else to NOT wear their seat belts (and most definitely do and will always force my kids to do it...although they never object..lol).
As far as I'M concerned, it's a gamble either way f you're involved in an accident. It could save your life, it couldn't. It could kill you, it couldn't. I guess I just think when it's your time, it's your time.

The odds of people winning the state lottery are HORRIBLE, yet people still play. And yes, while VERY different outcomes, still the same odds.

The thing that really bothers me about seat belts is that it's law. Not wearing a seat belt is a "victimless crime". Well, unless you consider yourself a victim of your own decisions in the case that you die from not wearing one.  I get a little irritated knowing that i don't even have the right to choose whether I want to die from the possibility of being ejected from the vehicle or die from possibly being decapitated by the seat belt. I just think I should have the right to chose since it harms no one else.
And, crazy that motorcycle helmet is not LAW but a seat belt in a car is. Someone not wearing a helmet in an accident is WAYYY more likely to die than someone not wearing a seat belt.

**disclaimer** I do not in any way, shape, or form, suggest or condone someone NOT wearing a seat belt OR a motorcycle helmet (if riding a motorcycle)...just playing devil's advocate

[Desert Dweller]

Duct tape begins where seat belts end.

[Sam]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

[Hello]

Everyone should always have the seat belt on.  Physics is no lie.  You need to stay as close to the speed as possible to the speed you are moving with.  No belt no control.  

As far as if it's your choice or not depends on how you look at it.  Leave it off, someone will pay for your choice, leave it on better chance someone will NOT pay for your choice.  

Keep it on...

[Tempting Fait]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

Problem with that is the innocents that are hurt, wives/husbands, kids and if it's a 2 car accident, no matter who's at fault the other driver has to live with the fact that someone else died when they were driving.

[-]

Everyone should always have the seat belt on.  Physics is no lie.  You need to stay as close to the speed as possible to the speed you are moving with.  No belt no control.  

As far as if it's your choice or not depends on how you look at it.  Leave it off, someone will pay for your choice, leave it on better chance someone will NOT pay for your choice.  

Keep it on...

Sorry to say Amber, I totally agree with this statement.

[Hello]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

Problem with that is the innocents that are hurt, wives/husbands, kids and if it's a 2 car accident, no matter who's at fault the other driver has to live with the fact that someone else died when they were driving.

Yes,  defensive driving is the best keep yourself away from other cars.  It is easier then you think.

[<3 Amber <3]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

I am in 100% agreeance with Sam. Until someone is of legal age to make those kinds of decisions, it should be law. As an adult, I should be able to choose without government interference.

Sorry TF and Snooze, if we looked at everything like that, then no one would ever leave their houses...or even live. Just being alive means that someone innocent could witness something horrendous that will change you psychologically.
Me seeing someone who cannot swim, drown in a pool can damage me psychologically. Should the government be involved and make it law that people learn to swim, or wear life vests in their own back yard just in case they fall in? No, that's just absurd. If you're an adult, you use common sense, you don't need the government to do it for you. 

Like I said, I'm not saying don't, I'm just saying I SHOULD have the choice.

[Hello]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

I am in 100% agreeance with Sam. Until someone is of legal age to make those kinds of decisions, it should be law. As an adult, I should be able to choose without government interference.

Sorry TF and Snooze, if we looked at everything like that, then no one would ever leave their houses...or even live. Just being alive means that someone innocent could witness something horrendous that will change you psychologically.
Me seeing someone who cannot swim, drown in a pool can damage me psychologically. Should the government be involved and make it law that people learn to swim, or wear life vests in their own back yard just in case they fall in? No, that's just absurd. If you're an adult, you use common sense, you don't need the government to do it for you. 

Like I said, I'm not saying don't, I'm just saying I SHOULD have the choice.

You do have the choice.  Not sure why you don't think you do?

[<3 Amber <3]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

I am in 100% agreeance with Sam. Until someone is of legal age to make those kinds of decisions, it should be law. As an adult, I should be able to choose without government interference.

Sorry TF and Snooze, if we looked at everything like that, then no one would ever leave their houses...or even live. Just being alive means that someone innocent could witness something horrendous that will change you psychologically.
Me seeing someone who cannot swim, drown in a pool can damage me psychologically. Should the government be involved and make it law that people learn to swim, or wear life vests in their own back yard just in case they fall in? No, that's just absurd. If you're an adult, you use common sense, you don't need the government to do it for you. 

Like I said, I'm not saying don't, I'm just saying I SHOULD have the choice.

You do have the choice.  Not sure why you don't think you do?

I do NOT have a choice to wear the seat belt or not. The choice I DO have is to obey the law or not. I choose to obey the law...period.  Don't confuse the two choices.

So Snooze, you would not at all be offended if the government came into your house and made it MANDATORY for you, an adult who knows how to swim, to wear a life vest or floaties just to go into your own back yard? Screw getting into the pool...just to go out there?  Floaties or life vest could possibly save your life ya know...just in case.

[Chunk]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

I am in 100% agreeance with Sam. Until someone is of legal age to make those kinds of decisions, it should be law. As an adult, I should be able to choose without government interference.

Sorry TF and Snooze, if we looked at everything like that, then no one would ever leave their houses...or even live. Just being alive means that someone innocent could witness something horrendous that will change you psychologically.
Me seeing someone who cannot swim, drown in a pool can damage me psychologically. Should the government be involved and make it law that people learn to swim, or wear life vests in their own back yard just in case they fall in? No, that's just absurd. If you're an adult, you use common sense, you don't need the government to do it for you. 

Like I said, I'm not saying don't, I'm just saying I SHOULD have the choice.

I think its the governments job to help us and save us from ourselves.  If I could give most of my income back to the government so that they could grow and help me decide how to live my life I would.

Yeah that was sarcasm.  Yeah I just watched the debates and am making fun of Terry Goddard...

[Hello]

I think it should be a law for children since there are too many bad parents out there, but for adults I think it should be a freedom of choice thing.  No matter what the stats say, if a grown adult wants to chance it, the government should not be trying to force it on them.  It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves!

I am in 100% agreeance with Sam. Until someone is of legal age to make those kinds of decisions, it should be law. As an adult, I should be able to choose without government interference.

Sorry TF and Snooze, if we looked at everything like that, then no one would ever leave their houses...or even live. Just being alive means that someone innocent could witness something horrendous that will change you psychologically.
Me seeing someone who cannot swim, drown in a pool can damage me psychologically. Should the government be involved and make it law that people learn to swim, or wear life vests in their own back yard just in case they fall in? No, that's just absurd. If you're an adult, you use common sense, you don't need the government to do it for you. 

Like I said, I'm not saying don't, I'm just saying I SHOULD have the choice.

You do have the choice.  Not sure why you don't think you do?

I do NOT have a choice to wear the seat belt or not. The choice I DO have is to obey the law or not. I choose to obey the law...period.  Don't confuse the two choices.

So Snooze, you would not at all be offended if the government came into your house and made it MANDATORY for you, an adult who knows how to swim, to wear a life vest or floaties just to go into your own back yard? Screw getting into the pool...just to go out there?  Floaties or life vest could possibly save your life ya know...just in case.

I see the point you are making...You should not get a ticket because you do not have your belt on.