What is the real reason you wear a seatbelt?

[Gregjam]

There are lots of reasons for wearing a seatbelt with the commonly quoted ones being personal safety, legal requirement or have just got into the habit. The latter will apply to many but is this really true. I thought I was part of the latter group but my new truck has made me think again. It is modern, has lots of safety aids such as ABS, HDC, Airbags and a raft of acronyms but unlike my little Vios it does not have that annoying seatbelt warning beeper. I am not one of those people who connect the belt before they get into the car and consciously avoid using the belt but have noticed that on occasion and more often on short trips I forget to belt up.
It comes as a surprise that this safety feature is not standard but also that I am not as safety conscious as I thought I was.
I am guessing that I am not alone in this.

[Big Boy]

Initially I started wearing one because it was law. However, I don't feel comfortable without one these days - it just doesn't feel right.

[brianks]

I started wearing one back in the late 50's after I saw a TV program showing that if you wore a belt you would be much more likely to survive any type of crash. That was all I needed to install one in my car at the time and have been wearing them every since. Don't care about air bags as the belt is the one thing that will do the most good.

[Terry]

Saved me twice.

Once from a near roll in 1970 and also when in Canada when my hire car got side-swiped by a runaway Mac truck.

Considering the moronic driving here in Thailand, wearing a seat belt is a no-brainer.

[Big Boy]

Considering the moronic driving here in Thailand, wearing a seat belt is a no-brainer.

Yet how many times do taxi drivers try to ridicule you when you wear one in their cab?

[PeteC]

Initially I started wearing one because it was law. However, I don't feel comfortable without one these days - it just doesn't feel right.

I agree. Been doing it for so long it feels strange when it's not on. Same as when flying as I always leave that on loose too.

Note: My Pajero Sport came without any warning buzzers of any kind...for anything! Don't know if a factory mistake or Mitsu simply doesn't install warning buzzers? I have a "door open" light which I guess is good as you fall out the door from not having your seat belt on. Pete

[VincentD]

Seatbelts were made compulsory in Thailand around the early 80's but most people didn't use them. I remember an anecdote where a safety-conscious guy with a nice clean shirt decided to use a taxi and actually used the seatbelt. He emerged at the other end with a nice diagonal stripe across his once pristine shirt...

[buksida]

Survived what would have been a fatal car crash here many years ago because I had a belt on - always wear it now.

[VincentD]

Back to topic

Seatbelts are one of the most useful passive safety devices, there is no excuse not to use them, reminder or not. (Though I do sometimes frown at the regulation in Singapore where it is mandatory to use the rear seatbelts as well)

Active safety devices, on the other hand, can be downright dangerous (many airbags on a lot of cars are way over twelve years old and have been known to deploy without warning) and can lull the driver into a false sense of security (ABS, EBD etc).

My radar detector picked up a new Mazda at least ten car lengths behind the car (it's something they call lane-change detection and uses active radar built into the wing mirrors - and you thought your cell phone was zapping your brain..)

But I digress...

[migrant]

I always wear one after some cop friends started. Been in a couple good crashes over the years and glad I was wearing it

[mudcat]

My father paid the extra US$50 to have front seat belts installed on a 1963 VW and I never stopped using them. Like many here I often look in vain for seatbelts in Thai vehicles both public and private. It is a never ending struggle to get Thai passengers to buckle up in my 7-seat MPV even though passenger safety was my over riding concern in my vehicle choice having followed too many filled to the brimThai pickups.

Haven't had an accident for years, but track time with the Alfa club and air turbulance has convinved me of the virtue of staying put.

[Nereus]

I shudder to think how we used to drive years ago without a thought of any restraint. I put lap belts in the first 1960 Land Rover that I had, and used to get ridiculed about them!
Now, I cannot drive without a seatbelt, and if I happen to have to use a taxi I am on edge the whole of the time.

What really p---es me off here is the endless school buses driving around without seat belts for the kids.
I believe there is a law requiring them, but it gets the usual Thai blank look! And while this attitude is tolerated no kids are going to grow up using them either.

[STEVE G]

I wouldn't drive a car without seat belts now but back in the nineties I did have a 1952 Austin for a couple of years that didn't have them. At that time in the UK you didn't have to retrofit classic cars with them but I don't know if that is still the case.

[Gregjam]

A good point by prcscct. Perhaps a door that is not shut properly is a threat to others be they pedestrians or other road users while the seatbelt is personal protection. Shows which item takes precedence. Is it just here that the truck type vehicles do not have the alarm fitted.

[PeteC]

Our Honda CRV had an alarm and light. My previous Toyota Tiger pick up I actually forget but I don't recall ever hearing any beeping if I didn't have it on. It did have a red dash warning light though when it wasn't fastened, for the driver only. Pete