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Seat Belts

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other day I was driving along and noticed the car in front of me had a child aprrox 9 years old in the front passenger seat and aslo a child about the same age in the back, anyway neither of them had thier seat belts and they were climbing about and sticking their heads out of the window but the lady who was driving had her seat belt on, mad :x :x
we come up to a roundabout and she then decides she wants to be in the lane that we are in so off she swerves, causing us to brake,
now my point is: I am so mad that she would put the kids at unessary risk while she was protecting her own,
and another thing..... if you get seen hitting/smcking your child in public they can take your registration plate(assuming you have a car) and report you and you can be prossecuted, but I wonder if it works the same if I went to the police and gave her reg plate they could prossecute her........by the way I cant now cos I didnt write her reg plate down
in edit: I always wear my seatbelt and make sure my son always wears his, but he has come to except that its the first thing he does when he gets into the car
Not 100 percent but i think action could be taken if provable by the police. I know of one man in the local paper arrested and sent to court by this means. He was reported throwing a crisp wrapper out the window by someone and on his arrest he addmitted it and was fined and paid court costs. So i suppose it depends on if it's addmitted.
it is , as far as i'm aware, illegal for a child under 14 (???) to be in the passenger seat of a car without a safety seat, and for any front passenger to be not wearing a seatbelt. (correct me if i'm wrong wink )
After a 60mph head on crash, the engine left where the gear stick is and the only reason I , my partner and my 7 year old (6 at the time) daughter, and the dog, who hit the windowscreen from the backseat are still here is because we had seatbelts on and she was in her safety seat.
Quote by Darkfire
it is , as far as i'm aware, illegal for a child under 14 (???) to be in the passenger seat of a car without a safety seat, and for any front passenger to be not wearing a seatbelt. (correct me if i'm wrong wink )

Yup, you must wear a seat belt in the front of the car. I think it is the drivers responsibility to enforce (could just be for children but can't find my copy of the highway code)
As for sitting in the front seat/age. You can sit in the front seat at any age, providing a safety seat or booster seat is used until the person is tall enough for the seatbelt to fit correctley..........my dad being as pedantic as he is went down to the local police station when I was 11/12 to ask if I was allowed in the front passanger seat rolleyes
When I was taking my driving lessons the instructer had another girl on his books who had to use a booster seat to drive - she was too short in the body for the seatbelt to fit correctly without one.
Les x
Quote by Darkfire
it is , as far as i'm aware, illegal for a child under 14 (???) to be in the passenger seat of a car without a safety seat, and for any front passenger to be not wearing a seatbelt. (correct me if i'm wrong wink )

You are correct DF :thumbup:
I have also a saved by the seatbelt moment when i was 19.
The law requires children travelling in cars to use an appropriate child restraint or adult seat belt, if they are available. Children cannot be carried in the front seat unless they are either in a child restraint or are using the seat belt. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are either using an appropriate child restraint or an adult seat belt if available.
Children under 3 years old
If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used (the adult seat belt is not sufficient). Children under 3 years old may not travel in the front unless they are in a child restraint.
If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used, IF AVAILABLE.
If an appropriate restraint is fitted in the front of the car, but not the rear, children under 3 years old MUST sit in the front and use that restraint. Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish. Rearward-facing seats are designed to be used in the rear as well as the front. You should always put a rearward-facing baby seat in the rear if is a front passenger airbag fitted.
Children Aged 3 to 11 years and under 1.5 metres tall
If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn.
If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If an appropriate restraint or seat belt is fitted in the front of the car, but not in the rear, children between 3 to 11 years old and under 1.5 metres tall MUST use that restraint or seat belt. (Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish).
Children Aged 12 or 13 years or younger children 1.5 metres or more in height
If carried in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
Passengers Over 14 years old
If travelling in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
It's worth a mention why we are on the subject that from the 18th of september the law on child seats is changing and any child under 4'5" MUST use a booster seat biggrin

These days the interior of cars are very dangerous pre-tension seat belts, air bags, side air bags, side air curtains, seat side airbags all exploding in micro seconds,...... they all make us feel very safe in our little metal boxes. Thats why i drive big cars they can withstand impacts far, far better.
Anyone of these can seriously hurt or KILL a child if not properly restrained, yes this is a fact, i work in the motor industry and stuff like this is circulated.
This is why cars have warning stickers on them best thing is to have children in the back and belted up securely, rear seat belts generally dont have pretensioners and wont smash childrens clavical's or cause internal haemorrhages.
Never have a seat belt across a childs throat always have a booster seat or correctly adjust the seat belt height adjuster on the 'B' or 'C' pillar as they can suffer serious neck injury !
Scary that isn't it !
I couldn't agree more. I think that parents who fail to restrain their kids in the car should be prosecuted for neglect.
Last year, we gave a lift to another child on a school trip- he was 10. We said "put your seatbelt on" he responded " I dont wear seatbelts in my mums car" We said " thats silly, what if you had an accident?" Him- "my mum doesn't have accidents" . Though he continued to protest, we made it clear we weren't going anywhere till he belted up (in both senses!) In this case the parents were middle class, very well educated numpties who should know better!
mad
Quote by winchwench
I couldn't agree more. I think that parents who fail to restrain their kids in the car should be prosecuted for neglect.
Last year, we gave a lift to another child on a school trip- he was 10. We said "put your seatbelt on" he responded " I dont wear seatbelts in my mums car" We said " thats silly, what if you had an accident?" Him- "my mum doesn't have accidents" . Though he continued to protest, we made it clear we weren't going anywhere till he belted up (in both senses!) In this case the parents were middle class, very well educated numpties who should know better!
mad

My parents made me and my sister believe that the car wouldn't start until all seat belts were fastened. Even now my dad refuses to start the car until all passengers are belted up - even takes the time to get the lap belt out from under the seat if there are going to be three people in the back of the car. He accepts that, yes, lap belts can cause huge injuries in a collision, but less severe than your head going through the windscreen from the back seat.
I admit that I didn't always put a seatbelt on as a rear passanger as I got older - until I saw the TV advert where the mother crashes the car and her son, who was sitting behind her without a seat belt, crashes into the back of her seat and crushes her against the steering wheel. I always wear one now if available.
Les x
I'm all for as many laws on wearing safety belts as possible. Having worked on a trauma ward I've seen at first hand the injuries caused by not wearing them. Trouble is, these people don't get the message until AFTER they've been through hours of surgery to pin them back together and months of wearing halo jackets, external fixators, collars and plaster casts.......and they're the lucky ones confused
Quote by Midlandsman1970
These days the interior of cars are very dangerous pre-tension seat belts, air bags, side air bags, side air curtains, seat side airbags all exploding in micro seconds,...... they all make us feel very safe in our little metal boxes. Thats why i drive big cars they can withstand impacts far, far better.
Anyone of these can seriously hurt or KILL a child if not properly restrained, yes this is a fact, i work in the motor industry and stuff like this is circulated.
This is why cars have warning stickers on them best thing is to have children in the back and belted up securely, rear seat belts generally dont have pretensioners and wont smash childrens clavical's or cause internal haemorrhages.
Never have a seat belt across a childs throat always have a booster seat or correctly adjust the seat belt height adjuster on the 'B' or 'C' pillar as they can suffer serious neck injury !
Scary that isn't it !

I've seen first hand the damage a crash can do many times and you are extremely irresponsible to not wear a seatbelt but to allow your children not to is uncaring and selfish. As for SRS systems mentioned above they can be leathal, I have seen demonstrations and videos of the effects of these safety systems, and the damge they can do is scary. They can also be activated at very slow speeds or in minor accidents so it is worth keeping a child in the correct position even if you are just nipping up the road... I'm pleased to see how responsible most people on the site are I get alot of stick but always insist on my friends buckling up even if I'm not driving it could save your life as a few on hear have testified.
I also had the 'misfortune' of seeing the results of a child going head-first through a windscreen I was only 7 or 8 at the time but I still remember the little girl's face and how badly scarred she was.
Belt up safely coz it isn't just you living with the consequences. :cry:
newt xx
Quote by Darkfire
it is , as far as i'm aware, illegal for a child under 14 (???) to be in the passenger seat of a car without a safety seat, and for any front passenger to be not wearing a seatbelt. (correct me if i'm wrong wink )

Drivers and adult front seat passengers in cars must wear a seat belt, unless they have a medical exemption certificate. Adults travelling in the rear of a car must also use seat belts, if they are fitted. It is the responsibility of the adult passenger (not the driver) to ensure that they are using the seat belt.
Just a hint regarding taking down someone's registration number if you don't have a pen handy. Write the number on your side window with your finger. Then, when you want to read it, just breathe on it to cause the 'fog' and the number will appear.
Mal
wink
Quote by Mal
Just a hint regarding taking down someone's registration number if you don't have a pen handy. Write the number on your side window with your finger. Then, when you want to read it, just breathe on it to cause the 'fog' and the number will appear.
Mal
wink

or just write it in the dirt on the bonnet lol
Quote by naughtynymphos1
Just a hint regarding taking down someone's registration number if you don't have a pen handy. Write the number on your side window with your finger. Then, when you want to read it, just breathe on it to cause the 'fog' and the number will appear.
Mal
wink

or just write it in the dirt on the bonnet lol
you must bloody long arms if you can reach your bonnet from inside your car!! :shock:
Quote by Mal
Just a hint regarding taking down someone's registration number if you don't have a pen handy. Write the number on your side window with your finger. Then, when you want to read it, just breathe on it to cause the 'fog' and the number will appear.
Mal
wink

or just write it in the dirt on the bonnet lol
you must bloody long arms if you can reach your bonnet from inside your car!! :shock:
i have :smug:
In all the years I've been taking my lad to/from school (on foot I shoud say) I've lost count of the number of times I've seen supposed adults acting completely irresponsibly with regard to their children. Whether it be failure to use seatbelts or chatting away by the side of the busy road whilst their toddlers run around unsupervised, the message is the same. Too many adults just don't think anymore and what's even more worrying, don't educate their offspring in even the most basic rudiments of safety, responsibility, acceptable behaviour etc. The number of times I've seen parents leave their babies locked inside their cars on hot summer days whilst they have a natter with friends 50 yards away is quite staggering. They're more concerned about the safety of their handbags and mobile phones than they are about their children!
Rant over - for now smile
Quote by Mal
Just a hint regarding taking down someone's registration number if you don't have a pen handy. Write the number on your side window with your finger. Then, when you want to read it, just breathe on it to cause the 'fog' and the number will appear.
Mal
wink

Another top tip is to keep a cheap disposable camera (you can often get them in £1 shops) in the glove box. If you do have the misfortune to have a bump you have photographic evidence for your insurance claim.
Les x
Quote by couple_ne2000
Another top tip is to keep a cheap disposable camera (you can often get them in £1 shops) in the glove box. If you do have the misfortune to have a bump you have photographic evidence for your insurance claim.
Les x

A bloody good tip :thumbup: and one that has saved me no end of trouble with insurance claims as its amazing when the third party fills out the form how they seem to forget (change) what position they were on the road at the time of the accident..........My insurance broker actually issues me with an accident pack every time I renew my policy, It contains 1 disposable camera a note pad and pen (you never have one when you need one) and contact details for them and all people I may require to get in touch withg asap I keep it in my brief case so its always with me should I need it smile
Sorry a bit off topic but helpfull non the least lol
I was in a serious accident but thats another story.
A interesting fact, if you dont have your camera take down the road tax serial number.
:small-print:
I was hit from the rear by a merc 500sl in 2000, the person got his car fixed after the accident and clamed he wasnt there at the time, he was living in kent me in Yorkshire accident on M1 liecs, but because I had the road tax disc serial number I won in court. Because if he never bumped into my car I couldnt have taken it down. rotflmao As he claimed he had never see me or me him, but decided to plead gulity.