Seat Belts

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OMG! I didn't read any prior posts but this is such a sore subject with me! I'm an insurance agent and can't tell you how many horror stories I've heard about kids in accidents. People just don't get it or think it won't happen to them. It sets a terrible example to young kids when either parents don't wear their seat belts or allow the kids to not wear them correctly (like tucking it behind them because it cuts across their neck...HELLO..its doing that because they are too small and need to still be in a booster!!!). I actually pull up next to cars and motion to their seatbelts and mouth "put on your seat belt"...and some kids look scared enough that they actually do it. and I'm not shy either about motioning to the parent to roll down their window and ask them how they would feel if their kid died in an accident because they don't have on their seat belt. I also have safty tips printed on the back of my car, one of them saying "Kids 12 and under BACK SEAT ONLY". I just hope it has helped make some people THINK. Its just unbelieveable.

As you said, adults need to have them positioned properly, also.

We were visiting a Sunday School class and one of the prayer requests was for a couple in a serious accident... she was killed almost immediately... she had tucked the shoulder part of the seat belt UNDER her arm, probably because it was rubbing her neck.

In the accident, due to the improper positioning, and the pressure on her chest, it ruptured her aorta and she died.

I'm with Jennifer G, the seatbelt against my neck drives me bonkers. And yes, it is adjusted as low as possible.

Momma11, it is true that you can adjust the seatbelt in your car, but it still rubs my neck. Guess I'm just really, really short.

I am 5'2", and if I didn't buy a special clip the seat belt would rub against my neck. (And all the ads saw kids don't need a booster seat if they're 4'9". I need a booster seat.) It used to drive me crazy! I bought these clips that hook onto the lap belt and allow me to position the shoulder strap so that it actually goes across my shoulder and chest and does not touch my neck. My husband likes them as well, and he's 5'10".

Sorry, but this is a pet peeve of mine. Seat belts are not made to do what you are suggesting. Of course you see adults wearing them improperly. Most people are not tall enough to be able to wear a seat belt properly without a clip (or similar product).

Just needed to vent. The world can be quite unfair to us short people.

Fact: Child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. O. study found that 72% of nearly 3,500 observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.

SEVENTY TWO PERCENT of car seats and boosters are MISUSED!!!

THAT MEANS ONLY 28% are used CORRECTLY.

Chances are you, your family, your friends and/or neighbors are NOT informed.

Sad, when FREE seat checks are available everywhere. 30 minutes could save your child's life. Sooooo worth it.

Here's a great child passenger fact sheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm

And find a free inspection site by calling your local police department or looking at:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

Thanks for posting this. Parents often obsess and fret over every detail of their child crib, food, friends, schools, etc....but often overlook this startling statistic!

Sure. Course. From the time my son was less than a year old I showed him that his belts needed to be across his 'hard parts'. Shoulders, sternum, hips. I prefer racing straps, but neither of our current cars are outfitted with them, so we've got the regular shoulder belt (better than nothing). In both cars (mazda protege and jeep wrangler) the belts adjust 6 inches along the door panel, which makes them hit shoulder/sternum from a person 4'6 to 6'6.

Growing up, my mum would frequently 'brake check' us, if we weren't minding out belt placement. A sudden stop at 15mph may not seem like a lot (and it's not, not enough for bruises even, just gasping like fish), but it SURE tells you if your belt isn't where it belongs. Even more if you don't have a belt on.

When I was 19, I'd gotten used to being in humv's and other equipement without being belted -no belts in humvs, just wooden benches (and had only been in a real car a few times. Well. As the only girl in a car with 4 boys, I was in the back middle and completely forgot my belt. Went through the windshield and landed a good 20+ feet in the grass. I'm lucky we were going so fast when we crashed (and that there was a field in front of me and not a pole), because I took the windshield OUT, instead of going partway through and getting sliced in half. Bumps and bruises only, due to pure. dumb. luck.

Momentum doesn't play.

I wear a seat belt (I used to be an EMT, I've seen a lot, LADIES WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS AND BUCKLE UP THE KIDDOS TOO!)... but here's the thing. My 2 daughters and I got in an accident when I was preggers with #3. I'm kind of so-so on the booster thing (I know, I know, we all freakin know better). I'm not saying YOU should do this, but speaking from our experience.... the boosters caused more harm than good in that accident. The boosters shot forward, but the belts prevented my kids from moving as well, and they had HUGE cuts ACROSS THEIR NECKS from the seatbelts. The belts were in the proper place; the BOOSTERS caused this. The police investigated this and everything and (like I was) were completely dumbfounded! Boosters are supposed to PROTECT our children!... but they don't always do their job. Seatbelts yes, boosters?... I don't sweat it.

I actually got pulled for an expired tag a few months ago. The officer wanted to give me tickets for my girls not being in boosters. I told him why they weren't. He actually called it in and confirmed what had happened, and let me go... but before he did, apparently there's this huge hurrah going on in VA that's under wraps, but it's about booster seats. They're re-evaluating their safety ;) Apparently I'm NOT the only one this had happened too, and that's why the officers investigated it at my accident scene! (That accident, BTW... not my fault!)

I am more interested in the fit of the seat belt than whether they are in a booster. And I am dumbfounded as to why more manufacturers don't make the rear seat belts adjustable like they do the front ones. My kids beg me to sit in the front seat (my son is 13) because he can get the seat belt shoulder strap to fit better than he can in the back. Why? ONLY because it has the adjustable shoulder thingee. WHY don't they put those in the back as well? I mean, they can install LATCH systems in every car, how hard would it be to make the back belts adjust on the side of the car like they front ones do?

I made my younger son stay in a booster before it became law. He was so thin, he would have slid ride out of a regular seat belt.

I'm with you. I've had friends volunteer to do pre-school drive/pick-up but when I mention I don't have an extra car seat for them to drive my daughter sometimes they get offended like I'm saying they wont drive safe. It scares me to death that due to a lack of carelessness, I could lose my child in an instant should we be in a car wreck. I also never take anyone elses kids in my car if the law states they should be in any sort of booster/car seat etc.. if I don't have a proper seat for them. It's not difficult to double check your child and make sure they are safe.

I'm in total agreement with you on all counts, and I also think of seat belt positioning : )

I totally agree with you! My son is 7 and he is still in a booster with a back. I see numerous classmates/scout mates not in booster seats and I cringe every time.

Horror story: I was at a friends one night, us moms were talking and our kids were playing. When I was ready to leave, another friend asked that I take her home on the way. I said sure and we got our things to leave. I asked her where her son's car seat was, and she got a backless booster..for a 2 and a half year old!!! I told her no way I was driving anywhere with him in that!

Your rules your car. Yes, I am adamant about this. I just say what I'm comfortable in my car and require my rules be followed.