Not Buckling Up Puts Everyone’s Life in Danger

[Richard Cranium]

By Jeff Carpenter

Jan. 4 — Most people know that wearing a seat belt can save their life, but now a new study shows that buckling up can also save the lives of the other people in the car.

an unrestrained rear passenger is thrown forward with the force of more than 3 ˝ tons in a 30 mph crash

Drivers and front-seat passengers are at a five times greater risk of dying in a car accident if the rear passengers are not wearing seat belts, according to a study conducted at the University of Tokyo.
The study, published in this week's issue of The Lancet, examined more than 100,000 front-seat occupants involved in car-to-car crashes between 1995 and 1999 in Japan. In all cases there were at least two passengers in the rear seat.

The most dramatic effect was seen in head-on collisions. In these types of accidents, the lack of rear seat-belt use increased the risk of dying for the driver by 600 percent: For the front passenger, death risk increased more than 700 percent.

Passengers Catapulted Forward more->>

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/l...ety020104.html

[SpookyEddy]

Yeah,

We have had an add in the UK that graphically shows the effect of not belting up in the back for several years.

I think the punch line goes along the line of "after he killed his mum he sat back down".

[Randolph Carter]

I bet thats a very effective if not grim ad.

[brandon184]

For me, not wearing my seatbelt isn't an issue. I was taught to wear my seatbelt ever since I can remember, so it's just a habit now. When I get into a car, I put on my seatbelt without having to think about it.

My older brother, (who is 21) isn't exactly the brightest driver. He never wears his seatbelt, and if he sees a cop - he'll put on his seatbelt (get THIS..), but after he passes, he'll take off the seatbelt... I don't really bother to inquire why, as I'm sure the logic behind that one would baffle me.. He has to renew his license this month, which is going to cost him $650. Simply because he has so many tickets for speeding and not wearing his seatbelt... His opinions on that are, "Why do they have to give you tickets for doing 70mph, in a 60mph zone?!".. Him and his fiancee` are having their first baby this month, so it should be interesting to see how that works out. It was a problem when the pregnancy was announced, due to the fact that these aren't exactly the most mature people in the world. Meaning that we're all just relieved that they can take care of themselves... Some people told us not to be too worried about it, because the fact that they're becoming parents will probably make them grow up (and fast). And we sat back and thought, "Yeah, that's probably right." But, as the due date for his child comes closer, the probability of that seems more unlikely every day... I'm sure you'll see a fair share of stories on THAT in the near future...

(Sorry for delving into another subject!)

- Brandon
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