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Yesterday I began a post and should’ve kept it more on the rant, instead I touched on a law that had just hit Michigan.
IMG: Sxc.hu
Today, I’d like us to talk about any experiences we’ve had with kids not wearing seat belts either in our own vehicles or seeing it on the road as we are driving. How do you REALLY feel? Here’s a few of my experiences:
Driving down the road I witnessed four kids in the backseat of a vehicle. There was one car seat (front facing) but it did not have a child in it, the others seemed to be fighting over something but they were all over the place. The one time I did not have my phone, instead I could only ignore it and hope for the best for those kids. Of course I was able to explain to the kids about those other children not wearing belts and why they should.
Another instance we were driving back from college and saw (not in the backseat) a father holding his little baby in his arms in the front seat just playing with her. Ummm, this bothered me so much that we did use the cell phone. Not sure if they were ever spotted but I felt better for calling it in as anything could’ve happened and that baby wouldn’t have been safe.
As for my own kids, we never leave the house unless everyone is belted in properly. Little A (he’s 2) has figured out how to loosen his belt so we are always double checking him. I’ve seen way too many accidents involving children that weren’t wearing belts and ended up dieing, sometimes even those that were wearing belts died. Either way it is something I never want to go through or chance with my own children.
Do you ever see a child not belted in? If so how do you feel? Or are you the parent that allows his/her children to unbuckle and if so why?
I regularly drive teen sisters who are daughters of a friend of mine. Their older sister died in a car crash along with 3 other girls. None of them where wearing seat belts. Any one would think that they would see the need to wear the seat belt but they stubbornly balk at wearing them. But I insist anyways for obvious reasons. I always hear parents who complain about how difficult it is to get their kid to wear their belt so they have given up. My response is that it will always be difficult but it is an absolute necessity, just like having working breaks, to car safety.
I have a friend of the family whose 11-year-old niece was killed in a car accident a year ago. She was not wearing her seatbelt and was ejected from the car and the car rolled over her. Everyone else had been buckled in and survived. Her parents said she was usually buckled in but they didn’t really check anymore since she was 11 years old. A good reminder that it only takes ONE time and you should always double-check, no matter what age they are.
My teenagers – Greg and Bay – try to go without a seat belt and that bothers me a lot, because it means that I have to remind them in my car, they probaby aren’t wearing them when they are riding or driving without me.
I rarely see a child not in a belt, in fact, I can’t remember the last time I noticed it.
If you are in the car, you should be wearing the seat belt.
I had my car written off in an accident with my 4yo inside. I was taken to hospital, he was completely unharmed. Thanks to his 5pt harness seat.
Here in Alberta a 9yo girl was killed a because she was sitting in the front seat of a van that rear-ended a car in a low speed collision. She was decapitated. She was too slight and light to be in the front. It’s not AGE that determines whether kids should be in the front seat, but their height and weight.
As for buckling seatbelts? That’s totally habit and it means parents have to be totally vigilant, as in “this vehicle does not move without you buckled in”, no matter what.
I’ve seen parents put their younger kids (kindergarten) in without a car seat when legally they are still required. I just figure I’ll never let them drive anywhere with my kids…