Topic: Seat belt laws and older cars.....

[eldar]

Well that changes the stock configuration of the car, which in most states, you cannot be forced to do. Besides, those belt extenders, I fell, add another possible break or injury point.

[seaweb11]

Just tell the cop "If I put in seat belts, I can't get my collector plates" 

[bill440cars]

          The extenders that I'm referring to were offered from the dealer when you bought a new vehicle. Looks to me like that, if there was a problem, you could jump on the the manufacturer with both feet (so to speak). I've never used them myself. Between military time and working for the Civil Service, I was required to wear a seatbelt and it got to be habit. I've had friends who died after being thrown from their cars and I'd just a soon not take that chance. Besides, the job I've had for the last 7yrs requires a good driving record and when you're working with handicapped and "Special Needs"  people, you need to take precautions. Later on,  Bill

[Bob Wessner]

I wonder if the issues being discussed here are, at least in part, the source of driving restrictions on historic plates here in Michigan. I know they were considering changing the law (i.e. loosen it up) but last time I checked, with historic plates you were limited to driving the vehicle to/from shows or parades, etc. It could not be used for daily transportation.

[eldar]

I am mixed about seat belts. On one hadn, yes they keep you in the vehicle, yet on the other hand, they can still cause injury. Choose between dying of living with a tube feeding you your whole life and not being able to talk or do anything.
I have seen accidents where the person with the seatbelt was killed while the person with no belt was a little scrapped up. I think it still really comes down to pure luck and nothing more. You have your choice of course and I wont that that away, we have enough polititians trying to do that already! I just prefer to have the option of a seatbelt and not be forced to have one.

back to the politics part. Motorcycles are becoming more common cause of gas prices. I bet you that within 5 years almost every state will be a helmet state to "save taxpayer money". Nothing can be left alone can it.

[bill440cars]

              Arkansas' helmet law was repealed some years ago. In a few cases, there are laws passed because people won't take it on themselves to do something voluntarily. For example, the helmet law. I know that it feels great to ride without one and it kinda gives you a feeling of freedom. You have the wind going through your hair, if you have any hair (or at least the wind going across your head Ha!Ha! I can joke about that because I have that shortage myself) and it just feels good. On the other hand, in the case of an accident, it won't feel too good if your head comes in contact with the pavement or any hard object. In Arkansas, when you need to use your wipers because of rain, you better turn your lights on because it's a state law. Too many vehicles tend to blend in during that kind of weather and when it's foggy also. I turn my lights on, not so I can see but, so that I can be seen. A lot of people don't do this and next thing you know, it will be a law and they will be the first to gripe. Some laws are good and some are bad. In some cases the politicians are just trying to look out for us (Not always but, sometimes). If a parent ever sees their baby or young child thrown through the windshield, I'll bet they wish they would have secured that child properly.
I know there are pros and cons to about everything but, weigh the options.
                                                          Later on,  Bill

[STLrocker]

I had A 76' Chevy stepside with 250-6 banger 3 on the tree.You had to go into 2nd gear just right or the linkage would hang up. My ex used to hang it up about everytime she drove it so I didn't let her drive it much.I did it like once in a great while.I used to pop the hood and move the linkage rods there on the firewall.

i have a 64 chevyII that does the same thing. only happens rarely. about 3 times since i had the car. i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one with that problem. i havent tried to fogure out the cause yet, but i suspect it has something to do with worn bushings in the linkage.

My 69' road runner had seat belts and separate shoulder belts that attached to the seatbelt or to a piece up by the sunvisor, when not in use and that's where it stayed most of the time I had the car.  Later on,  Bill

yeah, i had a 71 dart a when i was 17. it had the seperate shoulder belts. they folded up and cliped to the headliner when not in use. i got puller over once and the cop thought he had me. i showed him my lap belt, which i was wearing. guess he didnt know there was a shoulder belt. no ticket (except for the speeding). the shoulder belts were just way too much of a hassle. they didnt stay connected to the lap belt. you had to hook them toether everytime before buckling.

[cb350twin]

In Iowa you don't need to wear a seatbelt if your in the back seat and over 18.

Kinda reminds me of Iowas motorcycle headlight law 1976 or newer needs the headlight on during the day. I useally have my light on unless my battery is low. But I,m just waiting for the day the cop pulls me over and says you need you light on son. 

Do you all run your light during the day ?

[ic455]

In GA and KY if the vehicle didn't come from the factory with belts, you don't have to worry about it.  No tickets for it.

[tsp37]

Drive into Ohio and you are threatened from the bill-boards - wear your seat belts or we drag your worthless ass from the car and kick it.  All the while you are watching bikers on the interstate with hair blowing and nothing to protect their empty melons but a pair of sturdy sunglasses.  You see the same bikers in Kentucky, but you don't have the entertainment of the bill-boards.

I have personal experience and I know people with personal experience in the seat belt/helmet debate and the statistics cannot be denied.  These inexpensive devices save lives and lessen the personal damage in an accident.  Maybe a helmet is only useful in a minor spill, but it prevents a minor spill from becoming a deadly spill.

I too am a libertarian and I don't agree with the laws that force safety, but I also don't agree that medical care is a right.  If the nice lady at the emergency room doesn't think you can or will pay the bill, a couple of big boys in clean white uniforms can toss your bloody carcass back on the sidewalk.  That, my friends, is the dark side of freedom.

[Gordon]

Do you all run your light during the day ?

Absolutely!  It doesn't require any extra effort on my part and makes me that much more visible to the soccer mom on her cell phone waiting to pull out in front of me.   

[Rocking-M]

are you kidding me? nanny-state?? dude, go to Britain. you would #$%* yourself.

we have it pretty good - our gas is half what Europeans pay and our laws/restrictions are so much looser than anyone elses it's not even funny.

Well as a Hardcore Libertarian, ANY Malum Prohibitum law pisses me off and trips my "Nanny State" alarm.

So you can imagine how perpetually angry I am at the entire world and its laws, not just the US.  A true "Libertarian Paradise" does not exist anywhere in the world, because if it did, I would move there tomorrow.

Ah a Libertarian Brother! And a biker too!  I am encouraged.

[Bob Wessner]

Do you all run your light during the day ?

Always and my bike predates the automatic "on" wiring so I have to do it manually. Now part of my start a ride procedure.

[merc2dogs]

I wonder if the issues being discussed here are, at least in part, the source of driving restrictions on historic plates here in Michigan. I know they were considering changing the law (i.e. loosen it up) but last time I checked, with historic plates you were limited to driving the vehicle to/from shows or parades, etc. It could not be used for daily transportation.

  I used to have a 46 willys CJ2a, had historic plates on it,  I think they are limited to  parades, shows, and pleasure driving. No commercial use, Got stopped a few times, normally for no seat belt, or for having the windsheild opened up (cj2a has the whole windsheild etc that folds down, and the glass pivots open)  with my tools in the back on the way to work, and when the cop said something about the restrictions, I'd ask  " Don't you  think I'm having fun ?"  They generaly would grin and let me go.

  I think the seatbelt law is from 1965 up, prior to that if you want them you can install them.  Could never get the whole deal of that though, ALL cars on the road regardless of year are required to have turn signals retrofitted, but seat belts are 'optional'?

 Ken.

[bill440cars]

Another thing is that iff you are too large to use the seatbelt, you do not need to wear it.

           Hey eldar, they have what's called "Extenders" to put on the seatbelts, if extra length is needed and the dealers make them available as needed. And on that note, there might be a place to get extenders to fit used vehicles, don't know about that one. I do know that the size factor won't fly though. Just thought you ought to know.

                                                           Later on, Bill

[Rushoid]

Do you all run your light during the day ?

Not only is mine on, but it's on high-beam. It's brighter (obviously) but also saves wear & tear on the low beam which almost always has to be used at night. People tend to get angry when you use the high beam at night. 

[cleveland]

Seat belt laws have NOTHING to do with safety.  They are a law to generate cash for the local government.  If seat belts were really about safety, then why do thousands of school busses not have them?