Thread: Seat belts

a trick i learnt when i did driver training at work was after you click the seat belt in is to pull on it so that it takes all the slack out of the lap piece

a quick test is after you put your seat belt move your body forward and make it lock up, you will notice a reasonable difference in how far you travel

this is the only thing that i took notice of at the driver training.....yep i still a bad driver, rarely use indicators

Originally Posted by BMKal

I recently jumped into the front seat of a taxi at Perth airport about to go into a meeting in town. As we took off, I noticed that the taxi driver had not put his seat belt on. In fact, he had it done up (so that the red warning light on the dash wouldn't flash I suppose), but the belt was across the backrest of the seat behind him. I asked him why, and he said "my choice". When we stopped at the toll gate at the end of the airport terminal building (Perth people will know this), I jumped out and told him that I will not travel in a taxi in which the driver is not wearing a seat belt. He got pretty p'd off about it, as he could not re-join the que from that position, and wanted to charge me the fare into the city anyway. After he had given me a mouthful in whatever language it was that he was speaking, he got told - politely - where to go. His problem.

Haven't got a lot of time for most taxi drivers anyway, and I'm buggered if I'll put my safety at risk by travelling with one who refuses to wear a seat belt.

BM,
Have to say that does not suprise me. There are plenty of these, well I can not use language like that here. Their right or my choice is the biggest load of crap out. Is it the ambos choice to pick up the mutilated corpse or treat major injuries that with a seat belt would have been minor. The Police officers choice to have to tell the family and the Fiery's choice to clean the mess up. I think not. People must realise there are consequences for this type of action.
I am with you and would have got out as well, but I would have taken his number and reported him to the WA Taxi Board.
Most taxi drivers are Ok, just trying to earn a living but there are some real dodgy ones in Perth and I had one of these 3 times straight from Perth Airport.
I am all in favour of freedom of choice. You have that choice, you choose to drive a vehicle so all the responsabilities that go with it you have chosen by default. If people do not like it, then choose to walk. Driving is a privelige not a right.
Cheers
CraigE

Originally Posted by CraigE

"Freedom of choice." Sorry but that is a cop out and a sad joke. People that think like that need to see the results of not wearing one and the impact on the families. Sorry but this issue is one there is no valid against argument. Come to an MVA with me and see the results, if you can keep your lunch down, especially with a child. Safety laws put in place is not an infringement of your rights, but a protection of your life. If we did not have some laws there would be complete chaos. People that do not wear seat belts or drink drive get absolutely no sympathy from me. I am by no means a wowser and do believe in freedom of choice to a certain extent as long as there is no adverse effect on anyone else. I also do not agree with a lot of decisions made regarding road safety, but basics like this are essential. I am not pointing this directly at you Chucaro, as you say it is second nature to you to wear one, but you did make the statement about freedom of choice.

Professional taxi drivers do not have any exemption from wearing seat belts in Australia. Whoever fed you that line is grossly misinformed. I have personally seen taxi drivers booked for this.
Exemptions are very seldom granted.
CraigE

This is a bit out of the subject but related to the freedom of choice.
The use of seat belts is the result of extensive test world wide and i use the seat belt.
I dispute the enforcing of using it to adult people.
If you let the "Experts" run your life because e they know what it is better for you then you will have a miserable life.
There are plenty of these experts in office which have the opinion that motorcycles are dangerous and will love to wipe them off the street of Australia. A law that will "save lives and not body have to "clean he mess"
Guns are dangerous to society and should be band from the hands of the public.
Not long ego 4WD wre dangerous and should be removed from the street.
Boxing is dangerous and many doctors like to remove them from the sport (not to mention VFL and Rugby)
This is my point, if you give them a little chance to run your life, they will take the lot because "they know what it is the best for you"
THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS NOT A JOKE.

Originally Posted by jbarracl

Weird thing is that if you add seatbelts to a series vehicle that was not fitted with them you actually have to have it all certified as a modification even though you are actually making the vehicle safer whether it complies with adrs or not.

But who is gunna know if you don't have it certified? I wouldn't bother.

Originally Posted by Chucaro

This is a bit out of the subject but related to the freedom of choice.
The use of seat belts is the result of extensive test world wide and i use the seat belt.
I dispute the enforcing of using it to adult people.
If you let the "Experts" run your life because e they know what it is better for you then you will have a miserable life.
There are plenty of these experts in office which have the opinion that motorcycles are dangerous and will love to wipe them off the street of Australia. A law that will "save lives and not body have to "clean he mess"
Guns are dangerous to society and should be band from the hands of the public.
Not long ego 4WD wre dangerous and should be removed from the street.
Boxing is dangerous and many doctors like to remove them from the sport (not to mention VFL and Rugby)
This is my point, if you give them a little chance to run your life, they will take the lot because "they know what it is the best for you"
THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS NOT A JOKE.

Well, how about we put it this way. As our choice in emergency response we do not respond and assist anyone who is not wearing a seat belt. See how ridiculous the argument is. Most of these type of laws as is mines regulations are written in blood. Is it your employers choice to provide you with a safe work environment? No it is not, it is because of legislation. I do not agree with all laws, but as part of the Australian society we must abide by them and realistically if you do not like them go and live in a country that has very few laws and see if it is better. And yes I am a 4x4er, motor cycle rider and shooter.
At the end of the day it is "Your Choice" but you must also be prepared to take responsability and live with the consequences. Your so called freedom of choice opens up a huge can of worms, withe every being able to answer to anything with "Its my choice".

It really pees me off when I see parents driving with their kids not restrained - often in the front, often standing on the seats. Crikey, how stupid can they be?

I've never attended a car accident and I've only ever seen one as I drove past. And in that, the female pax had impacted her head onto and broke the laminated screen - not asll the way through but enough. I understand that as she bounced back, glass slivers penetrated her head. She lived.

(I'm also amazed at the number of blokes who drive good cars but let their wife (and kids) drive around in a bomb - after all, "it's only the second car, it's ok for going to the shops and school".)

Anybody ever see the crash test dummy doco?

One of the topics discussed is how they make crash test dummies and why the crash test dummies for babies/toddlers aren't accurate, only scaled down models of full sized dummies.

There isn't a smiley for that one.

Cheers
Simon

I always wear one.