In my opinion, it feels so strange to not wear a seatbelt. I've had it engrained into my system as long as I can remember. When my father was young (perhaps 19-20) he stopped at an accident. A girl had not been wearing a seatbelt. She had been ejected from her car. He pulled her close. It was too late though. She died in his arms. I honestly think that image haunts my father to this day, and I'm 100% sure that is why he always made sure we were buckled up. It didn't matter that if we were on a dirt road or going down the street. We were always secured properly. Even now, at 30, he will tell me to put my seatbelt on. I already have it on, but I appreciate his warmth and love.
Around the time I was 12, we were in a pretty bad car accident. A drunk driver ran a stop sign and broadsided us, the impact causing our car to end up on its side. We couldn't get the doors open, so my dad had to punch through the sunroof. I still remember the blood all over his hand and arm. We were all wearing out seat belts that day. As was the drunk driver. We all lived. Obviously, I can't say that if we hadn't been wearing them, the outcome would have been different. But that's my point. Why take the gamble?
My fiancée and my brother in law never wear their seat belts. My fiancée was not engrained as a child to wear his. As much as I get on to him, he simply forgets. I fear the chance he may be in a wreck and forget his seatbelt. I would be so distraught and a mess if he left our child fatherless over something that takes a minute. So I nag. Sometimes annoyingly so. I know I'm not his mother. I just want to keep him safe. He holds us together.
My brother in law, on the other hand, doesn't forget. He chooses purposely to not wear his. His reasoning? As a former firefighter, he's seen too much. He's seen accidents and fatalities that he feels would have been prevented if the deceased wouldn't have been wearing a seatbelt. He and I have sometimes had words about it, but he is a grown man and I will never know the things he has witnessed, hopefully anyway.
Wearing a seatbelt reduces your chance of dying by 45%
Even if you survive the crash, there's a chance you will be ejected from the car and hit by your own vehicle or someone else's. In fact, 3 out of 4 people that are ejected will die.
For people aged 0-30, a car crash is what is most likely to kill you. Why stack the deck even more against yourself.
Children who see their parents buckle up are about 20 percent more likely to do so themselves in the future. Your choices effect others around you. Most importantly, it could save your child's life some day.
Source
CDC Motor Vehicle Safety
I'm not trying to guilt you or even scare you. Ok, maybe I'm trying to scare the non wearers a little bit. It only takes a second. Think about all the people you would leave behind. Think about seeing your kids get married. Holding your grand babies. Celebrating your 50 year anniversary with your high school sweetheart. All things that you would miss, over something so easily avoidable.
I love you guys. Be safe out there.
