Very interesting thread; don't know how I missed it.
My grand parents lived into their late 80's and 90's without wearing seat belts and it never killed them, therefore seat belts are not needed; sounds pretty stupid doesn't it.
If you live a long full life and never have a serious accident, seat belt use will have been irrelevant I suppose.
In 1969, I was a passenger in a vehicle without seat belts when the driver lost control and hit utility pole. Of four people in the vehicle, I was the only one injured. Does that mean since three of four people were not injured, seat belts would have been statistically unimportant? Anyone of the three other people could say to this day, "I wasn't wearing a seat belt and I did OK, ergo seat belts don't save lives.
I spent 4 1/2 months in a hospital bed and still suffer from partial paralysis; was paralyzed from the neck down for a while. It took 2 1/2 years to get back in college. I was finally able to have a long successful career due to a lot of physical therapy and hard work. Still, not a waking moment goes by that I am not in pain though.
On December 21, 2006 at 1600 hours, I was returning to our main office when a young woman and her companion pulled into my path. I slammed on my brakes, but couldn't avoid impact. I hit her broadside and was slammed into my airbag. I spun around and the air bag had deflated. I was headed into the rail and the impact had lodged my right foot under the brake, so I couldn't stop the vehicle and had to watch the second impact unable to do a damned thing about it. My seat belt kept me out of my windshield; don't tell me a seat belt isn't needed because the airbag will protect you.
My vehicle came to rest facing the young woman's vehicle. A MSHP Trooper friend of mine responded as did an ambulance. I directed them to take care of the other occupants first and had to watch them being taken out and put on an air evac. I didn't think anyone could have survived, but there is always hope I suppose.
The young driver, a 20 year old nursing student was buried a few days later. She was not wearing a seat belt. Her passenger, who was wearing a seat belt suffered only a broken arm. I honestly don't know if a seat belt would have saved her life, but it might have. I know from experience and speaking to my friend, had I not been wearing a seat belt, I would have been more seriously injured or killed.
The collision aggravated my old injuries and I retired about a year and a half later; earlier than I planned. I still replay that moment in time trying to figure if there was anything I could have done to keep from hitting that little girl.
I know anecdotes can't be used to "prove" anything, but please don't try to tell me that overall seat belts don't save lives or they are not needed because of airbags.
