What do you think of seat belts?

Question

Life saver? Nuisance?

Don't you think it's time they invent something more easily useable, more consistently practical, and less of a chore? (Consider all the other things people occupy their time with while driving.)

Since the response has been in favor of continued usage of seat belts, I didn't realize how inferior autos are to make BOTH the seat belts and air bags life savings necessities. Thanks for enlightening me.

No need to improve upon these things.

Why bother making a safer automobile by using the latest state of the art materials that would hold well in collisions, and why bother improving the design and functionality of seat belts.

These automobiles being made today are good enough. Let's just keep making more and more of them and slapping on high sticker prices ...$50,000.00. $60,000.00

Then we'll invent some nice round figures by which you lease them and keep leasing for the rest of your lives, so long as that monthly nut is tailored around that meager paycheck.

Own nothing.

Keep driving them.

Don't improve anything.

They are just fine as they stand today.

Thankyou.

Answer 1

Hi,

I was recently made personally aware of this question, so, since I (try to be open minded) and am definately opinionated, couldn't resist answering. So....

Seat belts are fine as long as:

1) They are not the kind that come suddenly sliding up to lock you in as soon as you close your door, or the car is started. They are annoying and even when unbuckled, the buckle or whatever it is in the slider still insists on moving up and down whenever the door is opened or closed.

2) They are not the kind that keeps constantly beeping or buzzing until you either put them on, or buckle them behind your back, which that can become uncomfortable.

The reason I say these things are because I personally do not believe that the government, automobile manufactureres, or any other entity has any business telling us once we reach the legal age of adulthood what we can and can not do with our own personal bodies, property or safety, as long as we are not putting anyone else or their properry in jeopardy.

They may want to let us know of the dangers to ourselves of not heeding their warnings, but outside of that, if this country was really "free", they would stay out of our business.

So, ever since I got my first car, I have chosen not to wear a seatbelt for the mere reason that I find it uncomfortable. This was long before there were actual laws that say you can get stopped for not wearing one, or if you passenger is not wearing one. So, now, my one exception is if I am riding with someone else who wears theirs and does not wish to run the risk of being pulled over and/or ticked because I'm not wearing mine. In a case like that, of course I will not put that person in jeopardy.

O.K. point made, I guess. I don't care what frivilous things they want to put in cars, as long as they don't bug me. Air bags for instance, my 80 year old father had a fender-bended last year, in which he would not have been hurt, as the other driver wasn't, except for the fact that air bags came rushing out at him from 3 directions, crushing his ribs pretty badly. Those, are more than an inconvenience and if they are placed in vehicles, there ought to be a way for the consumer to disable them after purchase, if they so wish. These things you ask about should be a personal choice, as long as they are an adult, of course, as to whether they are used or not.

Now, one last remark. If the automobile makers really wish to cut down on the number of injuries that occur in automobile accidents, it seems as if they should have harder (not the right word, but you know what I mean) crash tests when they do them with their dummies before marketing the car. Maybe they should build them more like bumber cars (like in the amusement park) LOL.

I don't know anything about cars except how to drive them, but then again, I don't manufacture and sell them either. But, definately, I see 2 ways to cut down on deaths and injuries in cars.

1) Build them stronger and more resiliant. Don't put uncomfortable things like seatbelts and then make it the law to use them or else....... And don't put airbags that come flying out at who knows what rate of speed that cannot be disabled and have killed children and infants, and crushed all the ribs in an old man.

2) It's not all the auto manufacturers fault. If there were fewer accidents to begin with, there wouldn't be so much chance for injury or dearh. Theres a good place to start, IMO. With the Police. They should have the foresight not to chase people who do not pull over, especially in a city, close to schools and in heavy traffic. I don't know where you live, but here in OKC, there are literally at least 2 per day, often more, and almost inevitably, they end up either with a one or more deaths, and/or several serious injuries.

What's this world coming to?

Sorry - end of rant.

Answer 2

Nowadays higher-end cars have radar that warns the driver when he is about to back into someone. The latest incarnation of autopilot for cars has a radar built in that automatically slows the car when it gets within a prescribed distance from the car ahead.
So how about combining this radar with the airbag system? When the onboard computer determines that a crash is inevitable, it would deploy the airbags for the occupants' safety. These airbags would deploy in one of two ways depending on if the seatbealts were being worn. If the seatbelts were in use, the airbags would deploy normally. If the seatbelts were not being worn, the airbags would soft-deploy (so as not to break the occupants' necks), then inflate further (after contact with the occupants) to provide the cushioning force they are designed to provide.

Answer 3

I think they should fit the seat belt to the driver. I, for one, being short and have back problems, preventing me from sitting straight all the time, find the seat belt a hazard. The belt stays around my neck and I'm always tugging at it so I can breathe. I feel like I would be hanged by my own car when no other threat of danger would be present. Also, I have a cousin that would've died with his brother if he had not been thrown from the vehicle they were in when it crashed and caught on fire. Not being belted in saved his life.

Answer 4

I buckle up every time I get into my automobile. For the majority, seat-belts do save lives. I've seen the end results of not wearing them first hand, and most are not pretty, as I have worked accidents with emergency response teams. My take is this, if you love your passengers, don't start that car without making everyone is buckled up!

Answer 5

Hmm, whats so hard about pulling a belt over your chest, and then clicking it in the reciever? Couldn't be any easier. And besides, they have tried the so called automatic seatbelt. Which can pretty much rip your head off when you open the door, and trying to retrieve something that you had dropped. Those kind are a stupid invention, and are a danger to people anyways.

Answer 6

In washington where I live it is illegal to drive without a seatbelt, which is so stupid because not wearing a seatbelt is a victimless crime that the Washington state government is trying to make money off of. I mean if I want to get in an accident, and fly through the windshield, then thats my problem and I shouldnt get a ticket for $101 if I choose not to wear a seatbelt.

Answer 7

A few weeks ago, I saw a body lying in the interstate. The smashed pick up truck was about 20 feet away. People were running over to the body, saying "are you OK?"
Of course, he wasn't OK. He wasn't wearing a seat belt, was thrown from his vehicle, and now he is dead. Being dead is more inconvenient than wearing a seat belt is.
Wear your seat belt.

Answer 8

Today with the advent of air bags. Seat belts are a necessity. You could receive severe injury or death when an air bag goes off with out your seat belt fasten.

Answer 9

Yea. I mean it is SO hard to put on a seat belt. You have to umm.. . grab it and... uh... click it. Wow, that sure was a chore! It took a whole two seconds! I could have used that time to... uh... snap my fingers or something important like that. I wish the seat belt was easier to use. Like maybe I could say "seat belt, on!" and it would snap over me like they do in movies! I mean, seat belts are SO hard to deal with. It's not like they could save my life or something!!

So anyway, you get the picture: either you're just seeing if anyone's stupid enough to say that seat belts are a waste of time, or you're stupid enough to think so yourself.

Answer 10

I guess I miss the chore of putting on a seat belt. My 5 year old niece puts hers own by herself.