Back in 2013 Dean Gaffney, of Eastenders fame, was involved in a car crash which resulted in him having a lengthy scar on his forehead. In the rounds of interviews afterwards he admitted that he hadn't been wearing a seatbelt and that he was very lucky just to come away with a scar and nothing worse. He said that he had been 'naughty' in not wearing his seatbelt.
One of the problems with the emphasis on wearing seatbelts is that the predominant view is that it is a legal requirement and that's why we should do it. What many people don't remember is why the law is there and why it is important to belt up. Not wearing a seatbelt isn't just breaking the law, it is risking your life.
Back in the 1970's there was an extensive advertising campaign to encourage drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts. The campaign was fronted by Jimmy Savile and the slogan 'Clunk click, every trip' became known in households up and down the land. Whilst the presenter may now be discredited, the message isn't and is as relevant today as it was then. Cars are much safer these days than they were back in the 1970's but the physics is the same and if you go from 40mph to 0mph in a nano-second it is going to hurt you. The air bag may prevent some of the injuries but injuries mean nothing if you are dead.
As an ex-police officer I have seen a few of the effects of accidents where car occupants have not been wearing their seatbelts. How anyone deals with that on an ongoing basis is beyond me. How anyone can sit in a car without belting up is also beyond me. I'm not good looking, by any stretch of the imagination, but I have two eyes, a nose that is straight and no scars on my face. Why would I want to risk that? Why would you?
As Eeyore once said "They're funny things, Accidents. You never have them till you're having them." When you get in the car and don't belt up, how do you know you are not going to have an accident? It may only be a trip just round the corner but you still don't know and when the accident is happening it is too late. Then you are at the mercy of momentum, physics and fate.
It takes a few seconds. It could save your life. Don't risk it. Clunk click, every trip!
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk
Something I have noticed that is a growing problem with my generation is not wearing seat belts. For some reason it seems more fun to be free because a car is supposed to be fun. It worries me when people do this when another growing problem of texting and driving is highly popular.
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