Would you drive without a seatbelt if it was legal, and why?

[Mario149]

Inspired by the thread in BB section: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Dave Hedgehog]

id be flung out of the seat if i didnt use my belt

[6potdave]

I'd like to think no, but I imagine on trips to the shop I would probably end up being lazy and leaving it off.. which probably explains why it's a legal requirement!

[TheHeretic]

I probably would still use it. It feels odd now when I don't have it on. Feels wrong.

[kambites]

I sometimes take it off on the rare occasion that I'm reversing and want to look over my shoulder rather than use the mirrors (which is, of course, illegal at the moment). Otherwise, no, I can't imagine why I would.

[98elise]

No, i've always used one, so it seems natural.

Then there is the obvious safety aspect. I've been in a big motorway shunt, and there is no way I could have stopped myself going through the screen without it.

[Hugo a Gogo]

yes, sometimes

would you drive an unmodified pre-mid-60s car?
or an 80s - 90s truck?

[sticks090460]

Having been in two write-offs, no. Suspect I wouldn't be typing this if I hadn't been wearing one.

[Baryonyx]

No, having seen plenty of accidents where not wearing a seatbelt has made injuries sustained by those involved considerably worse, absolutely not. I wear it every time I'm in a car.

[Mario149]

kambites said:

I sometimes take it off on the rare occasion that I'm reversing and want to look over my shoulder rather than use the mirrors (which is, of course, illegal at the moment).

On the flip side, I've never understood why black cab drivers are exempt from wearing gone as well. And ice cream van drivers, or at least they were when I was doing it 11 years ago (don't ask!)

[Iain XR4i]

You don't need to wear a seatbelt during a reversing manoeuvre.

I used to say I'd prefer not to wear a belt, but now I don't think I would worry one way or the other.

[paranoid airbag]

I can see that riding without a helmet would be nice, so yes. Might even do it anyway on occasion, if it wasn't for the fact I don't own a bike.

Seatbelt? Not really. I've never felt like one's inconvenienced me. I've done so a couple of times as a kid on short journeys, but only because I was crammed in so tight I literally couldn't get to it even if I did give the person next to me a rectal exam.

[Big Rod]

I'd use it just as an anchor when cornering 'enthusiastically'.

As I do that as often as possible I'd be inclined to 'Klunk-Klick every trip'!

[jagnet]

No, I feel very insecure without it even when slow speed manoeuvring for 20 yards. The consequences of crashing without wearing it don't bear thinking about, and this comes from someone averse to ABS driving cars without air bags, etc.

[Mario149]

Weirdly, I'd never not wear a seatbelt in a car driving around as it would feel weird and dangerous, but I basically never put one on if in a taxi or on a coach

[Ghia x]

sticks090460 said:

Having been in two write-offs, no. Suspect I wouldn't be typing this if I hadn't been wearing one.

This. Exactly same circs for me.

[soad]

Anyone else noticed (young) european types not bothering with seatbelts?
Probably seen as not cool back home.

[Puddenchucker]

No.

Many moons ago, whilst travelling in the back seat of my fathers car, another car pulled out of a side road in front of us and, unable to stop in time, we T-boned it. I wasn't wearing a seat belt - they weren't fitted in the back of the car we were travelling in - and consequently when the car stopped abruptly, I kept going until I hit the back of the front seat. Fortunately, I didn't break anything, but I did bite through my own lip and spent the next week and a bit with face resembling a Baboon's bottom and only able to consume liquid foods through a straw.

I have no desire to repeat the experience, either as driver or passenger.

[MonTheF1sh]

No...because I drive like an arse and when I'm not driving like an arse usually someone else close by is

[arfur daley]

I used to do taxi ing and never wore one when I had passengers, except when on the motorway, but always wear one in my own car, feels strange not to.