It was common where I grew up well into the 90s for people to go on about how seat belts “trap” you in a car during a wreck… as opposed to flinging you from it to die on the road instead, I guess?
Everyone has a story about a guy who got flung clear. I’ve never met anyone who has actually been flung clear. I do have a friend who got trapped in a car after it flipped when her hand was pinned by a broken seat. But the seat belt saved her life.
Even more basic - I’ll bet none of those people had been in an accident serious enough to eject them in the first place. Who needs a seatbelt when you can just hold on?
One of my close friends from elementary school was a good argument for seatbelts. She lost her Dad when he was ejected from his Jeep while off-roading, and it rolled over him
I am personally a good argument for seat belts. I nearly died in an accident because I wasn’t wearing one in the back seat. Luckily, I bounced off on the driver’s seat, breaking half of my ribs in the process, instead of being ejected from the car.
A lot of that was infomercial TV grifting too. There were so many companies selling “emergency tools” to cut seatbelts and shatter windows a few years ago.
I thinks it’s really just normal human resistance to change. I do remember being resistant to seatbelt requirements, mostly because it seemed so unnecessary and uncomfortable.
Even knowing the statistics, I didn’t have family who had been in an accident where the seatbelt would have helped - plus of course I wore a seatbelt (in front). It was interesting that being in the back seat was always different somehow, but you also don’t always have inertial reel or adjustable belts, so I wonder if it comes down to convenience and comfort
This has been happening for decades.
Just the other day someone posted a video from the 80s when more strict seatbelt and drinking + driving laws came into place.
The chuds were all bleating about communism…
It was common where I grew up well into the 90s for people to go on about how seat belts “trap” you in a car during a wreck… as opposed to flinging you from it to die on the road instead, I guess?
Survivor bias. My uncle survived because he was thrown clear!! Dead men tell no tales, etc.
Everyone has a story about a guy who got flung clear. I’ve never met anyone who has actually been flung clear. I do have a friend who got trapped in a car after it flipped when her hand was pinned by a broken seat. But the seat belt saved her life.
Even more basic - I’ll bet none of those people had been in an accident serious enough to eject them in the first place. Who needs a seatbelt when you can just hold on?
My elementary school best friend’s father was one of those people.
One of my close friends from elementary school was a good argument for seatbelts. She lost her Dad when he was ejected from his Jeep while off-roading, and it rolled over him
I am personally a good argument for seat belts. I nearly died in an accident because I wasn’t wearing one in the back seat. Luckily, I bounced off on the driver’s seat, breaking half of my ribs in the process, instead of being ejected from the car.
A lot of that was infomercial TV grifting too. There were so many companies selling “emergency tools” to cut seatbelts and shatter windows a few years ago.
I thinks it’s really just normal human resistance to change. I do remember being resistant to seatbelt requirements, mostly because it seemed so unnecessary and uncomfortable.
Even knowing the statistics, I didn’t have family who had been in an accident where the seatbelt would have helped - plus of course I wore a seatbelt (in front). It was interesting that being in the back seat was always different somehow, but you also don’t always have inertial reel or adjustable belts, so I wonder if it comes down to convenience and comfort