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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Mustang / May 2005

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Seat belt laws in the U.S.

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RichA - 21 May 2005 07:12 GMT
I noticed them running seat belt
ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
I'm in Canada and belting has been
manadatory for ages, but is it now
obligatory in all states?
-Rich
Garth Almgren - 21 May 2005 07:33 GMT
> I noticed them running seat belt
> ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
> I'm in Canada and belting has been
> manadatory for ages, but is it now
> obligatory in all states?

In most states it is, but I believe that there are still a couple holdouts.

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Spike - 21 May 2005 08:19 GMT
>In most states it is, but I believe that there are still a couple holdouts.

I thought they had all finally fallen in line. Who's left? Idaho?
Wyoming?

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Dennis - 21 May 2005 11:58 GMT
>>In most states it is, but I believe that there are still a couple holdouts.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>Vintage 40 Wheels 16X8"
>w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16

In NH it's just children under 16 that needs to be buckled in, when I
lived in GA, pickup trucks were exempt from the seat belt law, that
may have changed since then, I moved 3 years ago.
SVTKate - 21 May 2005 12:15 GMT
Here in 'good ol boy' country, they have just started running ads
"Wear your seat belt in your pickup"
They they show a poor little Ford Ranger doing sommersaults down the road.

I see ont thing out here that really worries me.
People driving with small children on their laps IN TOWN.

If they want to let the little guy "drive" why not do it in the driveway,
not in traffic???

Kate

| >>In most states it is, but I believe that there are still a couple holdouts.
| >
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
| lived in GA, pickup trucks were exempt from the seat belt law, that
| may have changed since then, I moved 3 years ago.
Joe - 21 May 2005 20:34 GMT
And how about the morons riding in the pickup bed?  They're just
waiting to get bounced out.

> Here in 'good ol boy' country, they have just started running ads
> "Wear your seat belt in your pickup"
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>| I lived in GA, pickup trucks were exempt from the seat belt law,
>| that may have changed since then, I moved 3 years ago.
SVTKate - 21 May 2005 22:21 GMT
| And how about the morons riding in the pickup bed?  They're just
| waiting to get bounced out.

When I was a kid, we used to ride in the back of the truck.
Not on the highways, but around in the country.
Mom or dad drove slowly and we were made to sit on the bottom of the bed,
with our backs up against the cab of the truck

It was only after we became adults that we could ride on the tailgate with a
beer in our hand.
Spike - 21 May 2005 21:27 GMT
That was one of my pet peaveys on patrol. I know my dad and my
grandfather both did it with me, but all it takes is to collide with
something and you have a crushed child. I didn't issue a cite unless
the parent gave me lip about it, but I pulled them over, quoted the
law (impaired vision, impaired driving, etc), explained what was apt
to happen in a low speed collision. Very few made a fuss. Most
admitted they had not that far ahead and thanked me.

>Here in 'good ol boy' country, they have just started running ads
>"Wear your seat belt in your pickup"
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>| lived in GA, pickup trucks were exempt from the seat belt law, that
>| may have changed since then, I moved 3 years ago.

Hey! Spikey Likes IT!
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
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w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16
Mr.~G. - 22 May 2005 11:53 GMT
Sorry Spike, but it's just another case of too much government trying to
protect people from themselves.  BTW this was all started by the insurance
industry because the more people got hurt the more money they would have to
pay in claims it had nothing to do with being good to us, then it became the
politically correct thing to do and now here we are.

Regardless of THE LAW, I and other self preserving, thinking humans have
worn seatbelts and use child seats. So we now HAVE TO wear seatbelts but, it
doesn't keep idiots from using them while driving 80 mph drinking coffee,
reading the paper, chatting on the phone or putting on makeup, etc.

MG

> That was one of my pet peaveys on patrol. I know my dad and my
> grandfather both did it with me, but all it takes is to collide with
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> to happen in a low speed collision. Very few made a fuss. Most
> admitted they had not that far ahead and thanked me.
GEB - 22 May 2005 15:57 GMT
I believe it was Bill Cosby that said it best. He said that the reason we
are required to wear seat belts is because the ambulance drivers are too
lazy to look for the bodies at a crash site.

Gary

"Mr.~G." wrote in a message:
> Sorry Spike, but it's just another case of too much government trying to
> protect people from themselves.  BTW this was all started by the insurance
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> MG
Spike - 22 May 2005 22:30 GMT
That may be as far as adults are concerned, but where kids are
concerned, I see it differently. Kids have no choice. They don't get
tossed in the back seat and think to themselves, 'geee, I'm sure glad
they didn't buckle me in so I can get thrown all the way forward and
through the windshield if we have an accident'.

Personally, even I think the law goes too far. I think it should be my
choice about what I do regarding my own safety. I do not have the
right to risk the safety of others. That's their choice (adults). Same
thing with helmet laws.

However, the insurance companies then have the right to put in the
fine print, if you do something which inherently escalates the degree
of claim, they have the right to limit payment, or whatever. That
would simply be good business (whether anyone likes it or not) on
their part. An example is found in the military which mandated
seatbelt use. If a GI has an accident and is not wearing a seatbelt,
the military can refuse to provide the 100% medical care which is
normally provided. In fact, they can refuse to provide any care.
This came about because GIs were wearing seatbelts on the base, and as
soon as they left the base, they took them off.

BTW.. I always got a chuckle about the people driving around looking
like the were obeying the law, with their seatbelts hanging out the
bottom of the door. Pull 'em over and walk up and see them struggling
in panic trying to get the belt on before I get to them. And the
surprised looks when I say, "I just wanted to let you know your
seatbelt is hanging out. Have a nice day." and go back to my car.

>Sorry Spike, but it's just another case of too much government trying to
>protect people from themselves.  BTW this was all started by the insurance
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>> to happen in a low speed collision. Very few made a fuss. Most
>> admitted they had not that far ahead and thanked me.

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Mr.~G. - 23 May 2005 02:09 GMT
> However, the insurance companies then have the right to put in the
> fine print, if you do something which inherently escalates the degree
> of claim, they have the right to limit payment, or whatever.

What and have personal accountabliltiy? LOL

> BTW.. I always got a chuckle about the people driving around looking
> like the were obeying the law, with their seatbelts hanging out the
> bottom of the door.

Double LOL

MG
SVTKate - 21 May 2005 12:14 GMT
I think that W made it a national thing.

| > I noticed them running seat belt
| > ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
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ZombyWoof - 21 May 2005 17:06 GMT
>I noticed them running seat belt
>ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
>I'm in Canada and belting has been
>manadatory for ages, but is it now
>obligatory in all states?
>-Rich

Pretty much.  I think what you saw were the National Transportation
ads that aren't State specific.  "Click it or Ticket" campaigns are
being very heavily run right now in a lot of states.  Virginia, where
I live, is running it's own campaign right now.  

Personally I wish the would focus a little more on things like crime,
instead of making things such as stupidity (driving without a seat
belt) a crime.  Darwin's theories will kick in and naturally select
out those who need to be removed from the gene pool for stupidity
reasons.

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RichA - 21 May 2005 20:45 GMT
>>I noticed them running seat belt
>>ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>out those who need to be removed from the gene pool for stupidity
>reasons.

Here (Canada) if you were caught and convicted three times for not
wearing a seat belt, your insurance would go up so high
you wouldn't be able to drive.  It's two demerit points.
-Rich
Spike - 21 May 2005 21:34 GMT
I would agree (and some chlorine never hurt either) as far as adults
are concerned. However, kids don't have a choice in what happens. They
need the protection, and if parents won't do so voluntarily, then
there should be a law. Of course, you do have to consider that if the
kids survive and the parent don't, it's very possible that your tax
money will now be supporting more on the rolls. Maybe the law should
require at least one parent to be buckled up?

As for the back of pickups.... I think it's illegal here in California
unless there is either regular seating and restraints installed or
there is a shell. Heck, it's now required that dogs be restrained in
such a way that they can not fall/jump out and be drug/hit or
otherwise injured.

>>I noticed them running seat belt
>>ads on American (N.Y.) tv recently.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>out those who need to be removed from the gene pool for stupidity
>reasons.

Hey! Spikey Likes IT!
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior
Vintage 40 Wheels 16X8"
w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16
Garth Almgren - 22 May 2005 02:51 GMT
> As for the back of pickups.... I think it's illegal here in California
> unless there is either regular seating and restraints installed or
> there is a shell. Heck, it's now required that dogs be restrained in
> such a way that they can not fall/jump out and be drug/hit or
> otherwise injured.

Here in WA, dogs must be restrained in a pickup bed (rarely practiced or
enforced), but if all the interior seatbelts are filled (with children
getting seatbelt priority over adults other than the driver) people are
allowed to ride unrestrained and uncovered in the bed.

Weird, huh?

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Spike - 22 May 2005 07:17 GMT
Yep, but what the heck... They can still burn witches in Salem, MA,
and in the mid-west some place if a horse and carriage are coming at
you in your car, you are required to DISMANTLE the vehicle... LOL

>> As for the back of pickups.... I think it's illegal here in California
>> unless there is either regular seating and restraints installed or
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Weird, huh?

Hey! Spikey Likes IT!
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior
Vintage 40 Wheels 16X8"
w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A Radial 225/50ZR16
Kidd Andersson - 22 May 2005 17:51 GMT
>> As for the back of pickups.... I think it's illegal here in California
>> unless there is either regular seating and restraints installed or
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Weird, huh?

In Florida you aren't supposed to have any riders in the truck bed on
highways. Rural areas are okay as long as those in the bed stay seated
at all times. I'm not sure what the law is regarding dogs but I can't
recall the last time I saw a dog in a truck bed that WASNT somehow
restrained.
When I was a teenager we used to ride in the truck bed on the highway,
but we would lay down so we didn't get pulled over. As a matter of fact
I can remember the last time I rode in the truck bed. It was 3 am in the
middle of December and cold as hell. We went from Orlando to Daytona
because at that time Daytona was the only place that sold Krispy Kreme
donuts and we were stoned out of our gourds. We ended up taking
comforters to try and stay warm. It didn't help much. Now you know why
it's the LAST time I ever rode in a truck bed.

K.
 
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