Seatbelt stories: Do you buckle up? Would you buckle up for... $25? For $115? For life?

The campaign is a good reminder, but it just seems stupid not to buckle your seatbelt. We always do!

I always use my seatbelt. And no one can ride with me unless they buckle up.

Ever since my first pregnancy and then after Princess Di died (and they said she would have had a far greater chance of survival in that accident if she had been wearing one) I have buckled up, that's 14+ years now. I'm just like J.F., everyone buckles up in my car. I had an interesting exchange over this with my father-in-law once ; )

Seatbelts have saved my life TWICE, and the closest I EVER came to dying in a crash, and there have been a number of them, was when I DIDN'T have mine on...
I 'eggshaped' a Ford van steering wheel tryin to stay in the cab and broke the windshield with my head...
YEAH I WEAR 'EM!

Until I tore my rotator cuff and can no longer push the tongue of the belt into the catch, I always wore seatbelts. I still do if there's anyone with me to fasten it.

What amazes me is the number of kids here who do not ever wear a seatbelt unless they're in my car! The parents tell me the kids won't. My car doesn't move if there's an unsecured kid in it and the kids know it, so there's no discussion, they just cave LOL.

I would have done the windshield & head thing if I didn't wear mine, as well. As it was I had to change careers, after 4 years off work. If I hadn't worn my seat belt, I doubt i would have survived... in fact, the first responder on the scene saw my car and asked where "the body" was - he was amazed that I was walking around (and trying to light a cigarette, even - apparently not highly recommended LOL)

Right on, Deb.

Diana, you really instilled that into your kids, too, didn't you?

You're hardcore, J. F. Do you wait for your passengers to buckle up before starting the car or do you give 'em the head's up on the way to the car?

Don't tease, Kat! Tell us about the exchange ;-)

Lloyd, Whoa. You must have been pretty banged up from that one. You've been in two really bad accidents? Two too many, I'd say.

Dee, "The parents tell me the kids won't [wear seatbelts]" Whaaaa? Don't get me started. Kids are our responsibility, and people are that laissez-faire about it? Glad you hold 'em kids to the (car) party line.

You probably needed a smoke after an accident like that, flit. Perhaps farther from the vehicle tho ;-) Were you basically unscathed?

Kathleen that's pretty funny. Does your son recall that?

Julia, more like 6-8... not counting boats and one helicopter... wild kid I was.

Do you recall the accident in northern Wisconsin probably 3 + years ago? It was a rollover where the mother was driving her SUV- it was late at night and pouring rain. The car went off the road; the child was thrown from the car and died. The child was 4 years old I believe and wasn't buckled. The mother was not charged because it's illegal to take into account the use of the seat belt. The mother will have to live with her mistake but the child had no choice.
I've gestured to people to have them buckle their kids. Once, driving behind a very nice car full of very well dressed people, I seen the rear passenger holding up a very young child, probably 2 months old or so- insane... after mouthing to them and grabbing my seat belt, they pulled into a parking lot, hopefully to put the kid into the seat.
My blood boils when I see adults not being responsible, weather its car seats or letting them stand in the back of shopping carts and sit on the side... The kids don't know any better and often are too young to do anything about it- we need to have law to punish (and teach) those who endanger children...
Sorry for the long post, having two young children, I know the value of their lives and it pains me to see some of the stuff that people do.

Lloyd, do you chalk it up to luck or?

I don't recall that accident, Jeff, but I'm sorry to hear it resulted in a death. Do you think that ticketing campaigns encourage or inspire people to use car seats or seat belts for their children?

Honestly, I don't think it much affects the people that don't already buckle up. There's a reason they don't do it on their own- the campaigns might help some, and I'm sure they do, but not as much as we all would hope. I'd like to see some strong campaigns geared directly towards parents buckling up their kids, not moving the car, even if the kid's having a fit. I would like to know the fine for an adult not being buckled vs them not having their child buckled...

Hmmm, I'm not sure what that fine is, Jeff, but one might imagine that ticket would also cause some pain in the insurance premium.

Aren't there some parent organizations that share how to correctly use a child carseat?

Yes, there is, as a matter of fact, I've done some research on http://www.safekids.org/ and they do advocate on a lot of these matters. But the point I'm trying to make is that the people to endanger the children are not likely to listen to an ad campaign or seek info on using car seats, etc... The only way for some is to catch them in the act and more or less force it down their throat- if someone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it. I think some scare tactic ad showing greaving parents may make an impact, but short of that, I don't know what would.

I tell ya, this just irks me... Please read http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=169.685&year=2006.
From Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.685, subdivision 5 here are some excerpts...

Subd. 4. Admissibility into evidence. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), proof of the
use or failure to use seat belts or a child passenger restraint system as described in subdivision
5, or proof of the installation or failure of installation of seat belts or a child passenger restraint
system as described in subdivision 5 shall not be admissible in evidence in any litigation involving
personal injuries or property damage resulting from the use or operation of any motor vehicle.


Subd. 5. Violation; petty misdemeanor. (a) Every motor vehicle operator, when transporting
a child under the age of four on the streets and highways of this state in a motor vehicle equipped
with factory-installed seat belts, shall equip and install for use in the motor vehicle, according
to the manufacturer's instructions, a child passenger restraint system meeting federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
(b) No motor vehicle operator who is operating a motor vehicle on the streets and highways
of this state may transport a child under the age of four in a seat of a motor vehicle equipped with
a factory-installed seat belt, unless the child is properly fastened in the child passenger restraint
system. Any motor vehicle operator who violates this subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor
and may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $50. The fine may be waived or the amount
reduced if the motor vehicle operator produces evidence that within 14 days after the date of the
violation a child passenger restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards was
purchased or obtained for the exclusive use of the operator.

Delayed in getting back to you on this, Jeff, but that's some good detective work there.

Hate to admit it but I don't think there are better ideas out there.

No offense, but why do you say that- are you content with the status quo? I, for one, think there's just about always a better way for just about everything...

When my elderly aunt was alive, she didn't like wearing her seat belt. I tried very tactfully everything, including telling her it was the law and we could get tickets and I might not be a good driver that day. Finally, I just had to tell her every time that she was precious cargo for me and I wasn't going to risk her. I wouldn't start the car until the belt was properly fastened.

Seat Belts make sense. However, why do we need legislation to protect us from ourselves? Will democrats outlaw bikes, motorcycles, roller blades and skate boards? Maybe we need the bedroom police to check if safe sex is being practiced? This is a well intentioned law that steps over the line.

And the seat belt saga continues. A primary seat belt law is set to take effect tomorrow, June 9, at midnight. Anyone driving or riding in a car without a seatbelt will be subject to being pulled over and fined. If you'd like, please comment on this discussion. It's much appreciated!

Primary seat belt law in Minnesota, that is.