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[ReiseReise]

Totally off topic, have mercy Mods.
I hope I can save someone from tragedy.
I got in an accident last night.
Coming home from my company Christmas party, driving '91 S10 pickup, went around a corner a little too fast, hit some ice, lost control, started skidding to the left, overcorrected to the right and ended up in the ditch - UPSIDE DOWN. I had my seatbelt on, and I cannot stress this enough, MY SEATBELT SAVED MY LIFE. My seatbelt saved my life. I say it again so maybe some one will start wearing their seatbelt everytime they get in a car. It happened so fast I cannot even explain it to you, I was skidding on the ice and suddenly was stopped and hanging upside down in my seat. I had to kick (HARD) the door to get out. My roof caved in, windshield shattered, side windows shattered, and I was able to get up immediately and walk away without the slightest injury. I thank God for my 'good' luck. Yes, I had been drinking 3-4 hours before the 'accident'. But I do not consider it an accident, because it was totally my fault for going too fast and being slightly drunk at the time. I called the sheriff as soon as i got home (1.5 mile walk in 9 degrees F = damn cold) to report the accident.

If I had not been wearing my seat belt I would have been ejected from the vehicle, badly injured and would probably have froze to death before help arrived, no joke, it was 4am on lonely country road. The deputy who came to investigate also said that if I had NOT reported the accident, I would be hit with every ticket in the book including Leaving the Scene. As it stands, I got fined $200 for Exceeding Safe Speed, $200 for Operating with Suspended License (due to unrelated unpaid ticket), $170 to get my vehicle towed, plus I have to buy a new vehicle. Damn.

Lesson for everyone:
Drive Slow (speed limit OR LESS during dangerous rain/ice/snow conditions)
Drive Sober
Call the Police ASAP in case of accident.
Most importantly: Wear your seatbelt EVERYTIME. If I was not wearing mine I would not be typing this because I would be dead or at the very least in the hospital. I cannot stress this enough, I walked away without a single injury while my entire vehicle was destroyed around me, for the sole reason that I was wearing my seatbelt.

I hope I can prevent at least one person from getting into an accident as I did. Luckily I walked away, you may not be so lucky i you don't wear your seatbelt.

[DVX BELLORVM]

Glad you got away uninjured :2thumbsup:

[_Tristan_]

Working in the Police Force, I can't stress enough how what you just reported is important...

Seatbelts are the lifesavers on the road...

And regulations, while sometime stiff, are sure made for occasions such as you encountered...

Drive safely...


Glad you made it unscathed...:2thumbsup:

[predaturd]

seatbelts for fast speeds no seatbelts for 30mph or less

[crpcarrot]

seatbelts for fast speeds no seatbelts for 30mph or less

lol thats stupid. what happens if some else hits u at over 30mph??

wear a seat belt any time u r in the car

[YAKOBU]

ReiseReise - Glad you are safe and sound !! :applause:

predaturd - Not sure it's good to have speed limits for seatbelts. Do you then fiddle with the seatbelt when you hit the limit? Best to use seatbelt any time car is in motion !! :book:

:charge:

[predaturd]

30 miles an hour crash killed my uncle due to whiplash everyone else in the car had no seatbelt on and only got a few scratches.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I just passed my test a few weeks ago, so I'll be making sure I wear my seatbelt as soon as I step into any car. You should wear it all the time anyway, I think Reise's post shows why. I don't understand why people wouldn't wear a seatbelt, it takes what, one second? To, as in Reise's case, save your life.

Also Reise you should add, or maybe move, this topic to the tavern, more people would see it there anyway I would guess.

[TheLastPrivate]

Glad to see you ok. Kudos for seatbelts..

[Galain_Ironhide]

Not wearing a seatbelt if you are the driver or even the passenger is just like riding a bike without a helmet. It is senseless.

Good to hear you didnt get hurt man :2thumbsup:

[mir]

We're all glad you came out of the accident safe and sound, Reise!

Seatbelts are a lifesaver, regardless of what speed you're driving.

This includes the passengers in the back - even if the driver wears one, a passenger could end up killing the driver by not wearing one. The impact could propel the passenger forward, hitting the driver from behind and slamming him into the wheel.

And to those of us who have babies and children, please be sure to strap them in safely!

-mir-

PS. On another note, and this is for Reise, hehe. Sorry I couldn't help but share a little wordplay on drinking and driving. It's from a Japanese "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign some years ago.

"Nondara, noru na,
Noru nara, nomu na!"

"When (you) drink, don't drive,
When (you) drive, don't drink!"

* From the Japanese words "yomu" - to drink and "yoru" - to drive.

[Seabourch]

Thank god you survived, hope people read this and it doesn't get deleted.

[phonicsmonkey]

Hey man, glad you survived - sounds like you used up some luck there, be careful for a while!

[Husar]

be careful for a while!
Or for a while longer. :beam:

[Gregoshi]

I've gotten so used to wearing a seatbelt I feel uncomfortable when I can't wear one - usually the back seat of older cars where the belts have long disappeared under/behind the seats.

[Ronin]

good to see you made it out ok out of your accident.

totally agree about the seatbelt.....

when I get into a car the first thing I do is to fasten the seatbelt...it´s just an automatic thing now.

[Caius]

WE are glad you are fine, despite the fine.

[spmetla]

Glad you're alright and were able to walk away from the rollover. Also glad you have had this sobering thoughts on the whole matter instead of just getting angry.

[Beirut]

Glad you're in one piece. :sunny:

I think wearing a seatbelt is part of the Org. rules. I'll have to check on that.

[Sigurd]

ReiseReise... hmm, any scandinavian connection here? (it means TravelTravel)

First: I am glad to hear that you are alive and well.

However, what were you thinking driving a truck while being drunk? And why weren't you fined for it?
Sorry if I seem a little upset, but I have had people I know being mowed down by drunk drivers. And since you were driving a killing machine, I am particularly upset.
NEVER DRIVE while being drunk. Get someone to pick you up or take a taxi. NEVER DRIVE if you have been drinking.

Oh, and use seatbelts. I too have been saved by the belt. I am not going to mention the time I was saved by not wearing a seatbelt.

[Viking]

ReiseReise... hmm, any scandinavian connection here? (it means TravelTravel)

If I got his previous sig correct, it refers to a Rammstein song. ~;)

[Fragony]

seatbelts for fast speeds no seatbelts for 30mph or less

Been in a 30mph crash, let me tell you it is one heck of a thing. Full stop at 15mhs is already enough to swing you through the window.

[Quid]

I, too, feel something is out of whack if I do not wear a seatbelt. It's all automatic here. I can't think of a single reason not to strap yourself in.

Also, don't drink and drive. It's just silly and many a life has been worthlessly thrown away because of it.

Why drink and drive if you can smoke and fly - I say.

Smoking is bad for you too - just wanted to state that also.

Quid

[Mikeus Caesar]

30 miles an hour crash killed my uncle due to whiplash everyone else in the car had no seatbelt on and only got a few scratches.

Sorry for the loss of your uncle, but that is a totally stupid position to take on the matter - i don't know the details of the crash, but it is highly likely that what caused his catastrophic whiplash is something someone pointed out earlier - a passenger behind the drivers seat can hit the seat, killing the driver through the force of the passenger's impact.

The driver may be dead, but everyone else can be fairly okay.

[CountArach]

I've gotten so used to wearing a seatbelt I feel uncomfortable when I can't wear one - usually the back seat of older cars where the belts have long disappeared under/behind the seats.
Yeah, it does feel really unusual. I just can't understand why people wouldn't wear one.

Now a question - can a Policeman pull you over and fine you for not having a seatbelt on in America?

Almsot forgot to say: Glad to hear you made it out okay.

[AntiochusIII]

Now a question - can a Policeman pull you over and fine you for not having a seatbelt on in America?Yes. Although cops aren't normally that anal. They'll usually pull you over only if you're really driving dangerously (or just speed...but that's another issue and another rant I guess) and then add up the penalties if you aren't wearing the seatbelt as well.

On topic, basic high school physics indicate very clearly the massive difference between someone with a seatbelt and without in a simple crash. It's an absolutely good idea to wear them in virtually all situations,

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yes. Although cops aren't normally that anal. They'll usually pull you over only if you're really driving dangerously (or just speed...but that's another issue and another rant I guess) and then add up the penalties if you aren't wearing the seatbelt as well.

On topic, basic high school physics indicate very clearly the massive difference between someone with a seatbelt and without in a simple crash. It's an absolutely good idea to wear them in virtually all situations,

Aren't cops not allowed to actually pull you over for not wearing your seatbelt, but generally add that to other penalties if they pull you over for something else? Except during click-it-or-ticket campaigns of course, but they announce those and stop almost everyone.

Oh yeah and seatbelts rock. I was in a rollover at highway speeds when I was around 8 or so and I probably would have had major injuries without my seat-belt. We were really lucky only one person got a small cut, no other injuries!

[mrdun]

went around a corner a little too fast, hit some ice, lost control, started skidding to the left.

ooo drifting Do YOU have a need for speed???

[Kekvit Irae]

I remember I got t-boned by some idiot going 55 miles an hour while I was turning into a vet's office (I was going about 10 miles an hour). If I wasn't wearing a seatbelt then, I wouldn't be here now.

It is in my personal opinion that if you don't want to wear a seatbelt, you SHOULD be removed from the genepool.
Just sayin'.... :book:

[Husar]

I wear them in cars usually, not on my bike, in the subway, trains and buses because they unfortunately require you to bring your own with the exception of travel buses. :dizzy2: