Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
snip
I don't believe in seatbelts and here's why.

Eleven years ago now, I was rear ended by a flat nosed GMC delivery
truck. He hit me so hard that my right shoulder was broken (the one
that was recently fixed), my right hip was fractured in place - all by
the seat belts and my left shoulder was dislocated. A fire started at
the rear of the car and I couldn't get out - I could smell the fire
and was conscious enough to try and get out but I couldn't move my
arms.

All I remember was somebody stopping and fortunately, much like me I
might add, had a bottle fire extinguisher, got the fire out and after
that I don't remember anything except for waking up in the UMASS ER.

If somebody hadn't been prepared for a real emergency, I would have
been a cripsy critter. I had to be cut out of the seatbelts I was
told later.

In my years as a volunteer Paramedic, I've seen really bad accidents
where no seat belts were worn and nary an injury except for bumps and
bruises. I've also seen as many with seat belts and nifty things like
torn aortas, various broken bones, split spleens, etc.

There is a big difference between a four/six point, tightly cinched
racing safety harness and a shoulder harness in a private car.

Don't get me started on air bags.

Me either. We were told we had to put up with airbags because
irresponsible Americans weren't using their seatbelts.
I agree...get rid of the airbags and put real four point seatbelts in
all passenger vehicles. Anyone not using them gets his auto
towed/compounded for a week at his cost.