Safety Belt, For God Sake were your Seat Belts

[CBW1999]

Bottom line- seat belt's save lives.

Several concepts of physics apply here.

First, when in motion (you are moving in the same direction as the tractor- apply this concept as you will)- the energy in motion will keep you going in that direction, even if you are trying to change your path. Hence, you may "jump clear" but the tractor is still moving in the same direction you just came from and since its mass is larger than you- it will travel farther than where you stopped. Have you ever seen some one change direction 90 degrees mid air?

Potential energy vs kinetic energy. Even in a car going 5 miles per hour, you body mass is still traveling that speed. if the vehicle suddenly changes direction (rolls) or stops, your body is still going in the same direction at the same velocity as before. if there is something in your way that will withstand the impact, you'll likely not go through it. however glass or an open window provide much less resistance when energy is applied and you will go through it.

Three tests to prove these theories. 1. The average person can sprint a short distance at 6 mph. sprint into a brick wall and write down you observations. 2. sprint into a glass window and write down your observations. 3. stand on a roof while holding a ten pound weight above your head- jump off and half way down, try to get out of the weights way.

After 20 years as a medic, I've seen more than I wanted to in regards to preventable injuries. If any of these examples helps you educate someone who is not a "believer", it will have served it's purpose. Several examples posted by others are right on as well (clothes catching on the tractor).

There is nothing sadder than seeing a family grieving over a death that was preventable.

(yes I have been to low speed accidents resulting in Fatalities, and yes, a seatbelt would have prevented it)

 

[greenmule]

I don't even wear a seat belt when I'm driving my truck down the highway,only time I ever put it on is when I 'm in one of these little strange towns where you got stop lights where cops can see if you're wearing one or not.
But they are making it harder to not wear one,96 toyota,just a little light is on when not wearing one,2001 ford f150,bell/chime is on but you can just take your finger and push seat belt slot and it stops,now 2008 honda,you got to buckle up or it won't stop.

Always did say when they start making cars like they drive in nascar,than I'd be stupid not to wear one than[that ain't going to happen],these tin cans we drive are just not solid enough for me to buckle up in. Air bags are much better.

As far as tractors/dozers etc,yeah there are times when you should buckle up,but I havn't had one of those times in many years now.

 

[Bird]

there are times when you should buckle up,but I havn't had one of those times in many years

You're right; those times only happen fairly infrequently, but also unexpectedly, so you don't have time to change your mind and put it on just before it happens. I've been wearing seat belts regularly for 47 years and the darned things have only saved my life once, so I guess only once in 47 years means I've been wasting my time putting it on.

 

[greenmule]

Well if that seat belt actually saved your life than you certainly wasn't wasting your time,if it actually saved your life or serious injury.Most vechicles now have airbags,so.But if it saved your life,can't argue with that fact.

But you could take this to about anything we do,many people get hurt on steps,don't think the government should make us wear safety stuff,[helmets,butt pads,etc] when we walk on steps either.

I wouldn't be on a motorcycle with out a helmet,but don't think I have a need or obligation to tell you to wear one.

But back to not on public road safety. When I weed eat I wear safety glasses,cause I feel there is a good chance of it kicking something in my eye. When I brushog or till on my property,with my tractor,I don't think there is hardly any chance of me rolling tractor,so,I don't wear seat belt or keep rops in upright postion. But of course there is a chance it might roll,I'm willing to take that chance in this case.And there could be cases where a seat belt on when using tractor could actually increase your chances of getting hurt,thats just a fact.

In other words,every case is different and its up to the individual.

 

[Bird]

In other words,every case is different and its up to the individual.

For the most part, I agree with you. I don't like laws that make you only protect yourself; e.g., seat belt and helmet laws. However, I've seen some studies that indicate the taxpayers are out a lot of money caring for folks who were injured or disabled in accidents because they weren't using seat belts or wearing a helmet.

Air bags? Yep, pretty good at saving lives, but only if used in conjunction with the seat belt. Otherwise, in a frontal collision, the air bag will hit you and then you'll likely slide right under it.

I'm sure you've seen here on TBN, and maybe other places, too, that if you have a seat belt on your tractor, you also want a ROPS. You don't want one without the other. In my opinion, as well as that of some others, I sure would not want any air bags without having a seat belt on. A seat belt alone is pretty good, in combination with air bags, very good. But air bags with no seat belt is just plain scary and dangerous.

 

[aczlan]

Air bags? Yep, pretty good at saving lives, but only if used in conjunction with the seat belt. Otherwise, in a frontal collision, the air bag will hit you and then you'll likely slide right under it.
[chunk of text removed]In my opinion, as well as that of some others, I sure would not want any air bags without having a seat belt on. A seat belt alone is pretty good, in combination with air bags, very good. But air bags with no seat belt is just plain scary and dangerous.

in the older cars (Volvos anyways) the airbag was not labeled "airbag" it was labeled (and may be to this day, I don't remember) SRS (Supplemental Restraint System), airbags were invented to be a SUPPLEMENT to seatbelts, they were intended to reduce whiplash, not to replace seatbelts. also, if you are in a rollover (in a car), even if you have 32 airbags, they will only help for the first roll or so, after that your seat belt is what keeps you from being ejected from the car or doing a imitation of a BB in a spray can inside the car.

Aaron Z

 

[slowzuki]

Our province has a 50% fault law, if you aren't wearing a seat belt in the accident, you are automatically 50% at fault for insurance.

Its different here because my tax dollars are burned up saving idiots who won't wear a seat belt. For every uncles gf's daughers piano teacher would have burned to death if they had their belt on in the crash there are hundreds ejected and suffer permanent brain damage or death.

#1 reason for me to wear a belt, try to stay in control of the vehicle. Its really hard to steer or break if you're bouncing around inside. Try just driving on a dirt road fast, that nothing compared to running over that fell off a truck or hitting the ditch at speed.

#2 Airbags don't work as well on unbuckled passengers.

#3 Seat belt saved my life. I was driving normally on my drive home and was hit head on by a drunk driver who cranked it into my lane at the last second.

 

[greenmule]

Well,guess you could put it this way,there are seatbelt drivers and nonseat belt drivers,I'm just a natural born non seat belt driver!Heck,it might even say that on my tombstone one day.

Now as far as people who get hurt and not wearing seat belts causing the rest to pay more,that shouldn't be the case[if its really true],thats a bad system if it works like that,[or is it just big brother telling you that?]Most insurance is so big a scam that I would not pay any attention to what they say.Probably a better reason is all the illegal aliens getting full service at hospitals that is making the rates go up?

If you are a tobbaco user,well,same thing,your causing others rates to go up?

If you are in the millitary,same,if you are an iron worker,same,if you are a lumber jack,same,if you fish for crabs with mike row on discovery channel,same,etc,etc.

 

[riptides]

The fire departments that responded to my roll over used airbags to get me out from under my tractor. That old Farmall steel proved to be more of a challenge than expected.

 

[Bird]

I'm just a natural born non seat belt driver!Heck,it might even say that on my tombstone one day.

I can't honestly say I don't care, because I actually do, but at least I won't be the one to have to pull your dead body out of a car wreck. I've done my share of that, and I can tell you for sure that it's no fun.