stupid poll of the day: do you wear your seatbelt?

[mike02467]

Well, do ya? I find a lot of people I drive with don't wear their belts while driving or as passenger. If I'm driving, especially in my Civic that beeps every so often if the driver or passenger doesn't have their belt on, I try and make my passenger(s) wear their belts. I don't get why so many people don't do it. It's not like they are uncomfortable or anything. Not to mention it's proven to be a heck of a lot safer than not wearing one. Personally I feel like I'm naked without my seat belt.

Why do people not wear them? I think it may be because of life rule #1:people are stupid.

[Lwize]

Yes, I wear a seat belt.

In fact, I wear one even if I'm swapping tandem spaces at work.

[Wilhelm0075]

Yes I wear my seatbelt

[bpodlesnik]

I never understood why either. It's not like it takes forever to do. I am putting mine on as I am putting the key in the ignition.

[vdubspeed]

always! Put mine on while the glowplugs are warming up.

[mr lee]

I do every time.

Although, my Step Mother would be dead today if she was wearing her seat belt. Her sister fell asleep at the wheel and drove off a cliff. They both were ejected and the car was smashed and caught on fire. They both were badly bruised with oil burns on -10%. And yes, she's worn her seat belt ever since.

Not saying it was right, just one of those rare instances.

[clutchrider]

I've always worn it since day 0. It was engraved in my mind at a young age and stayed with me. Not to mention it's save my *** in a few accidents. I also do not let people ride in my car without putting them on.

My wife when I met her did not use her seatbelt. I used to always nag her and she would do it begrudgingly but my father finally talked sense into her as well. Now she ALWAYS puts it on without me needing to say a way.

[sunofernest]

People who don't are also too cool to respond to Internet polls

[JohnRico]

Alright, i'll own up. Sometimes, when it's a short distance, and on private or obviously deserted roads, I will skip it. And I feel pretty naked without it. 99% of the time, I will always wear it.

[Inspector Detector]

It's 2nd nature to attach the belt as soon as I step in my or any other car.

[bringtheshred]

Always. Even if I'm just going around the block. There are too many stupid people on the road to take the chance.

[Smoltz]

I voted no. I'm not stupid, I just don't care.

[TangoRed]

I do and if I'm driving I make everyone riding with me do it too. If we get in an accident, I don't want an unbelted passenger flying around the interior hurting everyone else.

[freedomgli]

I voted no. I'm not stupid, I just don't care.

Yeah, that makes you stupid.

[adrew]

2012 Yaris will beep periodically, then start ramping up the frequency and flashing the light in the gauges until you give in and buckle up.

I always wear my seatbelt when driving, but have gotten the frantic beeps when moving the car around a parking lot or something like that.

[hipster.]

As soon as I get in the car before I even put the key in the ignition.

[VwG60Kid]

i do always... every once in a while i will forget the lap belt in the corrado though... damn auto belts

[pcp999]

Former paramedic here. Wear your damn seatbelts. Please

[Smoltz]

Yeah, that makes you stupid.

There is risk in everything. I am sure I could look at your life and find places where you take risks. Some people might deem the risks you take as unacceptable even though you disagree. Acceptable risk vs unacceptable risk is purely subjective. Your line is simply in a different place than mine. Somewhere between my line and your line you have drawn the "stupid" line. Also subjective.

[CWmk6gti]

Always.. I think people not wearing seat belts is even more stupid then drinking and driving

[2.0T_Convert]

There is risk in everything. I am sure I could look at your life and find places where you take risks. Some people might deem the risks you take as unacceptable even though you disagree. Acceptable risk vs unacceptable risk is purely subjective. Your line is simply in a different place than mine. Somewhere between my line and your line you have drawn the "stupid" line. Also subjective.

No, this isn't somethint to play these games for. You put yourself at far greater risk for serious injury or death and this is a simple easy thing to do. I seriously hope you have some excuse other than you think it is cool to be a badass who doesn't care.

In other words please tell me your are so damn fat the seatbelt cuts of circulation or something.

[mike02467]

There is risk in everything. I am sure I could look at your life and find places where you take risks. Some people might deem the risks you take as unacceptable even though you disagree. Acceptable risk vs unacceptable risk is purely subjective. Your line is simply in a different place than mine. Somewhere between my line and your line you have drawn the "stupid" line. Also subjective.

So why don't you wear yours? You take risks all the time in life, why add another one?

[shepherdgti]

When I was 17 I rolled my gti. No seatbelt, and I only suffered a few cuts. It was a long time ago, and I have always worn one since.

[FolksvagenGTI]

i wear my seatbelt but not because it saves lives but it save me $85. I understand why its a smart idea to wear it but why dont they ticket motorcyclists for not wearing a helmet. Im surrounded by metal with airbags all around (even in my seat, kinda scares me if that were to go off)

[SebTheDJ]

Yes, picked obligatory irrelevant opshun

[mr lee]

click it or ticket.

[j. Kush]

I used to be like you guys. It was ingrained at a young age and I felt almost naked without it.

But then one day I realized I hardly ever wore it anymore. Maybe it seemed especially uncomfortable in the Arizona heat and rather pointless in the grid-pattern traffic I was normally driving in, but at some point I just subconsciously stopped using it. Now back East I estimate I wear it 50/50, and a good bit of that is because click-it-or-ticket or the car I'm driving has a damn chime.


I'd say the following factors contribute to why I do/don't wear a belt when I'm driving (somewhat in order):

- annoying chime
- how rushed I am
- intended driving style
- distance of the drive
- vehicle type/power, size and safety
- type of road being traveled, expected traffic, possibility of animals
- previous seat time in car/on road
- what I'm wearing (it wrinkles dress clothes)
- likelihood of police

As a passenger, I'd include 'insistent family/friends' and 'trust in driver' along with most of those above.

There is risk in everything. I am sure I could look at your life and find places where you take risks. Some people might deem the risks you take as unacceptable even though you disagree. Acceptable risk vs unacceptable risk is purely subjective. Your line is simply in a different place than mine. Somewhere between my line and your line you have drawn the "stupid" line. Also subjective.

I appreciate this post.

[2.0T_Convert]

The recent story posted here about a woman who died when her SUV rolled backing down a driverway should be evidence enough to always buckle up. Taking a quick little ride is no excuse. I bet she thought the same thing right before she made a mistake and got a tire over the driveway edge and down an incline leading her to end up tossed out a window and crushed by her own vehicle.

[Air-over-water]

There is risk in everything. I am sure I could look at your life and find places where you take risks. Some people might deem the risks you take as unacceptable even though you disagree. Acceptable risk vs unacceptable risk is purely subjective. Your line is simply in a different place than mine. Somewhere between my line and your line you have drawn the "stupid" line. Also subjective.

You are putting OTHER people at risk, not just yourself.
So stop being an inconsiderate PRICK and think of people other than yourself and buckle up.

[Smoltz]

You are putting OTHER people at risk, not just yourself.
So stop being an inconsiderate PRICK and think of people other than yourself and buckle up.

You know NOTHING about my life or personal situation.

[Air-over-water]

You know NOTHING about my life or personal situation.

But I do know that your idiotic choice to not wear a seat belt means you are not secure in your vehicle thus making you a danger to those around you.
So again, stop being a prick and buckle up.

[samc]

You know NOTHING about my life or personal situation.

We know you don't wear your seat belt. And it's still stupid.
Really we don't want to know about your life so don't flatter yourself.


I wear my seat belt every time.

[worth_fixing]

Always do and always will. I feel naked without it. I don't do it for the ticket; more for the high probability of it saving my life in an accident and/or reduce severe injury. It's not like there are any drawbacks whatsoever to wearing a seatbelt.

Do I think people who don't wear it are idiots? Well, kinda yeah kinda no, for the reasons stated above. I can't see why anyone wouldn't, but it's their own choice, their own life, and it's not like it'll ruin any one ELSE'S day if they don't wear it.

Just a side note; some guy in his 40's just died in a car crash last Sunday 5 mins from my house. They think he fell asleep at the wheel. His car left the road and hit a ditch. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was ejected. He hit a tree and died instantly. A seatbelt would have saved his life and he probably would have walked with minor injuries.

[x1000rpms]

I put on my belt everytime i get in a car no matter what... just habit. Even if I'm just going to be sitting in it parked for a while waiting for someone... feel... kind of.. naked with out it.


If people get in my car and don't put on a belt - the first thing I do is point out that I also don't feel the need to be safe and I push the button to turn off traction control. This has a 50% success rate of getting people to put on their belt.

The second thing I do is take the first 90 degree turn at about 25 mph and about 15 degrees worth of oversteer. I find that this step has had a 100% success rate.

[Smoltz]

But I do know that your idiotic choice to not wear a seat belt means you are not secure in your vehicle thus making you a danger to those around you.
So again, stop being a prick and buckle up.

Is everyone who drives an SUV or pickup truck an idiot cause they are less controllable than cars? Is everyone who drives a passenger sedan an idiot because they are less controllable than sports cars? Is everyone who drives a car without stability control an idiot?

You're putting other people at risk by not washing your hands after going to the bathroom, but 1/4 of men don't. Are 25% of men idiots? (Don't answer that one. :-))

There are an infinite number of things that humans do every day that put other humans at risk.