Where's the logic?

[Hagar]

Seat belts have been compulsory for over 20 years in the UK. The initial objections soon petered out. I no longer feel comfortable in a car without one. All cars must be fitted with approved belts for all seats. Crash helmets have been compulsory for motorcylists for even longer. I'm sure it was law when I got my first bike in 1959. Even if it was not illegal I wouldn't dream of riding a motorcycle without one.

The UK seat belt law now covers driver & all occupants including those in the rear seats. Children must have suitable seats with proper restraints.
I assumed that all cars in the US were fitted with seat belts these days. I remember having a hire car which had an automatic seat belt that strapped you in when you closed the door. I thought this was a brilliant idea. This was some years ago when on holiday. It was a big Oldsmobile I think -  ideal for touring. We called it the gas-guzzler.
I haven't visited the US for some 10 years.

[Lethal.Ambition]

I live in South Florida and we have had the seat belt law for ages! But now they want to enforce it and stop anyone without a seat belt.

[Wing Nut]

I think the confusion may lie in the fact that while there has been a seat-belt law on the books for years, it has not been a stoppable offense.

[Hagar]

[quote]That still does not really address the hypocrisy,

[BFMF]

The change now is that they can pull you over now if they see you're not wearing one.

If you're driving down the highway at 60 mph and pass a cop on the side of the road, how can he tell if your buckled up?

[RichieB16]

One thing that bothers me is that some of the older cars (like the car I'm working on) only have lab belts-even in the front.  So, it looks like the driver isn't wearing a seatbelt from the outside of the car-since it can only be seen when someone looks directly into the interior.  I wonder if I'm gonna get pulled over (and then let go) because it looks like I'm not wearing a seatbelt.

[Lethal.Ambition]

Andrew, passing a cop ( except when he is going very slow ) is like suicide.

[Fozzer]

If you are not wearing your seatbelt and you run into something solid, you immediately become a rocket-propelled grenade..... ...!
Wearing seat-belts and motor-cycle crash safety helmets is mandateory over here... ...!
"Klunk-Klick, every trip"...!... ...!
...you know it makes sense... ...!

Paul.
(England).

[Wing Nut]

Hey Fozzer,  If it weren't the law, would you wear a helmet?

[ozzy72]

Agreed Fozzer, for those of you on the other side of The Pond who might doubt, or be complaining well think about this little piece of research my the British Motor Vehicle Safety chappies.
An average sized two year old in a car not wearing a belt in a head on collision at 30 mph has the same effect as a fully grown African bull elephant (something to do with physics!) when it hits the windscreen (or adult seated in-front of them).
My advice wear the belt, don't compain, and if the officer stops you, be polite and point out that you have enough brains to wear one! I'm sure the officer will be v.nice, I always found the CHiPs chappies v.polite, especially when they pulled my dad for speeding

Mark

PS. Kevin I would ALWAYS wear a lid and leathers, I was in Greece some 8 years ago and ended up in hospital with my head split open (windsurfing accident), and they brought in a German tourist who'd come off a moped wearing only shorts and flip-flops. I'm not squeamish, but I nearly puked. He died lying there on the bed next too me, there was just so much of his body missing, and he'd come off at about 20 mph. Most of his face was gone.... I could see his ribs (the skin flailed off his chest. The right arm and leg looked like bits of meet hyenas had been chewing on for a few hours. Convinced me of safety first!

[Fozzer]

Hey Fozzer,  If it weren't the law, would you wear a helmet?

DEFINITELY...!
When I first started bikin' in the late 1940's all we had to wear were berets and cloth caps worn back-to-front with flying goggles to prevent them from blowing away in the super-sonic speed which we travelled in those far-off days... ....LOL...!
Due to thin plastic tyres, loose road gravel, and very little retardation in the braking department the accidents were numerous and the head injuries fatal... ...!
By the time of the mid '50's, proper, (fibreglass),  motorcycle helmets became available and it was cool to be seen wearing them, (although not compulsory 'till later on), on our cafe' racers... ...!
From then on it saved lots of heads, and lots of beds at the local hospital/morgue.... ...!
A modern motorcycle safety helmet is now a fashion statement as well as a head-saver... ...!

Cheers mate...
Paul....brmmm...brmmm...!
(England).

[Hagar]

Reading this thread gives me a strange feeling of deja vu. I remember the same arguments & objections when seat belts were made compulsory in the UK.

Manufacturers were forced by law to fix front belt anchorage points by 1965, and belts themselves had to be installed from the following year, nearly two decades before their use became compulsory.

Fortunately. common sense prevailed. A few stupid (IMHO) individuals still object to wearing them but they are in a small minority. The same applies to crash helmets for motorcycles. Sorry Foz, I still call them crash helmets.

I'm surprised to hear that anyone would think of using a lap-strap in a car. These would offer no protection at all & you might as well not bother. Our seat belts must comply with an international standard & comprise a lap-strap with a diagonal shoulder strap.

Richie. These are not compulsory for vintage cars over a certain age but any car can be fitted with an approved safety belt. This article gives the details & a brief history of seat belts in the UK.
http://www.quickfitsbs.co.uk/qsbs/2b.htm

[Wing Nut]

Just to be clear, I have nothing against wearing seat belts.

[Hagar]

[quote]Just to be clear, I have nothing against wearing seat belts.

[goball65]

Seatbelt law in Florida is front seats only and they'll only stop you for an infraction other than not wearing seatbelts. At that time you will be no doubt charged if not wearing seatbelts.
However the rear seat passengers don't have to wear them.
Where's the rational there???
Make sure the rear passanger directly behind you is as light as a feather just in case you crash.