seatbelt laws!!!!

[gerry]

I was pulled over yesterday by the police for not having my seat belt on. I actually did have it on, but under my arm rather than over my shoulder. I explained this was the case and was issued with a ?30 fine anyway. Does anyone know what the regulations are regarding seatbelts? Are there any police officers who read this forum?

[*Bob*]

Gerry, I had very much the same problem with the boys in blue when I was out on my motorcycle not so long back. I explained to the officer that I was 'wearing' the helmet - only on my foot rather than my head.. but he just looked at me like I was an idiot.

Shall we start a campaign? The European Court of Human Rights should be worth a shot.

[zephyr]

This link gives you the rules about seat belts.

You would be expected to wear the seat belt correctly i.e. according to the manufacturers instructions which means over the shoulder.

Not entirely sure why you would want to wear it under your arm and if you had an accident you would have a higher chance of being dead. Going under you arm would mean it is over the lower part of your ribcage and body which in turn would mean it is over your liver. Trauma to that is extremely dangerous and can be fatal on its own.

[KalamityKel]

Sorry Gerry but y would u be wearing your seat belt in any other way? What would be the point? As highlighted above ^^^

[*Bob*]

zephyr Wrote:

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> Not entirely sure why you would want to wear it

> under your arm

Gerry was just stickin' it to The Man.

[SteveT]

I got stopped at London bridge early one sunday morn, the police were quizzing all drivers on their destinations and the pc lady mentioned to 'fasten my seat belt' I hadn't realised it was not on, but I have never heard of anyone being nicked for it, it seems very petty to me.

[Nero]

Wear one in the back seat of a car, too. It could save your life, or prevent serious injury. I can see the civil liberties objections, but I value my limbs and internal organs, so I wear clunk-click every trip. Nero

[gerry]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I've spoken with a police officer who said its not worth fighting as it was probably a rookie with nothing better to do that day and he had to score a few points to get the practice!!!! I wear my seatbelt like that because I have a back problem and its more comfortable. I should have a doctor's note for it.

[????]

Bob - the statistics on Toe injuries before and after legislation on helmet wearing bare you out

[mockney piers]

I'd a friend who ever stated that seatbelt wearing was for girls, I lost count of the number of times i told him to belt up, especially as he drove aggressively; second generation Italian, machismo's a big thing.

Car went off road, he'd have been fine with a belt but as it goes I went to his funeral a few years back. (I didn't mutter I told you so, though I seem to recall the Catholic priest informing us that Dan was in a nasty part of purgatory because he never came to mass, charming man)

Your back won't hurt much 6 feet under gerry, so an effective pain prophylactic there!

We should certainly look into toe helmets as an additional measure though, good point ;)

[gerry]

Good to have you back!!!!Sorry to hear about your friend. Italian......I know the problem.

[mockney piers]

Cheers gerry, nice to be off my sofa at last..

Apologies for the black humour, but I think Zephyr's right in saying they're more dangerous under your arm.

I seem to recall some dispatches/panorama years ago about how bad those waist ones at the back in the middle were for you in an accident.

It may be uncomfortable, and I'm sure you won't have a crash, but then nobody plans to have one.

[atila the gooner]

I expect the copper thought that he was enforcing the law of land and was only doing his job, fair enough. Also I can see that this would be seen as a deterent against failing to wear a seat belt. I just wish that would nick all the dick heads who insist on using a mobile phone while driving when we all know it's against the law and can be potentially fatal, not jut for the prat on the phone but for some poor bugger minding his own buisness driving the other way or even being a pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[mockney piers]

Wahey, we can agree on something. Put it there Atila!

[atila the gooner]

mockney piers Wrote:

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> Wahey, we can agree on something. Put it there

> Atila!

I feel the love coming at me Mockney. The mobile phone thing really bus me but it seems there are lots of idiots out there who still choose to not only put themselves at risk , which Im not fussed about, but the innocents around them.

[buggie]

Would definitly not recommend wearing seatbelts under the shoulder - maybe you should google and see if there's any kind of harness/strapping you can add to a seatbelt to make it more comfortable Gerry.

With the belt under the arm instead of over the shoulder you're putting your liver at considerable risk of injury in an accident as opposed to your collarbone and ribs taking the force (ok they might be broken and hurt but repair much easier than a lacerated liver!)

Having seen awful injuries to a girl from a car accident over the w/e heartily recommend clunk clicking before every journey (and not trying to cram 7 people into a mini).

[spadetownboy]

gerry Wrote:

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> Thanks to everyone who responded. I've spoken

> with a police officer who said its not worth

> fighting as it was probably a rookie with nothing

> better to do that day and he had to score a few

> points to get the practice!!!! I wear my seatbelt

> like that because I have a back problem and its

> more comfortable. I should have a doctor's note

> for it.

or maybe it wasnt a rookie gerry, maybe it was an officer who saw that you were breaking the law, decided that he would do his rightful duty and enforce the law by slapping one on you. dont make yourself out to be the aggrived party you took the chance broke the law and got caught, hopefully you,ll think twice about doing it in the future.

[gerry]

I have parents already!!!!

[KalamityKel]

:-| Gerry how old are u?!

[TillieTrotter]

I'm sorry but I agree with Gerry. Wearing a seatbelt wont protect others lives just your own and that is when interference by the law goes too far.

[KalamityKel]

If you are sitting in the back of a car in a collusion wearing a seat belt can prevent you from crushing the person in front of you and potentially killing them. So I'd say wearing a seat belt does protect others no?

[SteveT]

When they first made seat-belt wearing law, the intensive care units were empty. They seem to be full these days though!

[TillieTrotter]

I'm talking about if youre the driver no! Erm SteveT are you sure thats a fact. I'm not saying its big or clever but I feel I have the right to choose.

[Asset]

not if your injuries end up not killing you but rendering you incapacitated and requiring constant care, that causes a strain on resources that otherwise would not be necessary if you'd just put on the belt. slightly skewed argument but you can see what I mean

[*Bob*]

Belt up, Tillie.

You know it makes sense.