Belt Up!!!

keefg

Hi Ladies,

Just want to run this one by you.......it is a motoring question but I think it will get a more informed response here.

I normally work from home and avoid the rush hour traffic as much as possible but lately I have had to venture around Dublin for business meetings, which as you know means traffic and plenty of it (boo).

During the 8am to 9am and 2.30pm to 3.30 pm school run I have seen an amazing amount of women driving to and from schools with unrestrained children jumping around in their cars.

What's going on here? I can't believe that these women (and I am not having a dig at women drivers - it's just a fact that it is mostly women who do the school run) are unaware of the dangers of letting kids jump around in the back, and in some cases the front, of their cars.

There have been plenty of media campaigns in recent years about the serious injuries (and death) that can be caused but this behaviour, Irish driving tuition is (slowly) on the rise, and let's not forget it is against the law for anyone to be in a car without some sort of restraint - be it a seatbelt or child seat.

Now, I am expecting a whole bunch of you to come on here and say what disgrace it is that drivers risk their kids like that......but I am sure that their are a few young mothers on here who don't always belt their kids up in the car.

What do you ladies think the reasoning behind this behaviour is?

Do you think the drivers just don't care about their young passengers?
Do these drivers think that they are so busy and need to get to their next destination after the school run that they just don't have the time to restrain their kids?
Is it a discipline issue? Do you think the drivers put the blame onto the kids by saying "He/She won't wear a seatbelt"
Or when it comes to road accidents, do too many people just think "It won't happen to me"

I am involved in the motor industry (indirectly) and I am wondering if there is some sort of campaign that can be done to highlight this issue.........but first, we need to understand the reason for this behaviour pattern.

Honest opinions please ladies.....especially if you can admit to being someone who might not always restrain child passengers on the school run.

Thanks

WindSock

I already have a low opinion of soccer moms who live near enough to the schools but still block up the roads during rush hour. But to think that some would drive, probably seatbelt themselves but not their kids goes beyond me. My suggestion is to have ads more specifically aimed at this behaviour, or have more Gardai on doing checks at schools.

keefg

WindSock wrote: »

or have more Gardai on doing checks at schools.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen

What about a campaign targeting schools? If the kids themselves can be brought around to the idea that they should be strapped in when mum & dad takes them out in the car then maybe pester power will win out.

Approach the kids and make them think of it as a really socially unacceptable practice.....the way attitides to drink driving were changed in the 80's & 90's.

Who knows? Maybe it will work and save a few lives.

WindSock

Yeah actually I was thinking of that too. Maybe have someone go around to schools and talk to them, maybe hand them out non-graphic leaflets to take home to show the folks. Or get them to draw pictures of themselves belted up in the car.

Trinity

I dont move the car til the seatbelt is on. Its the 1st rule of the car.

I did have difficulties when he was a bit younger, say 5. He was a big lad so car seat was not a runner. I would see him in the mirror jumping around and although the seat belt was on, it was around his waist if you know what i mean. I was constantly pulling over to put it back on.

I was stopped at lights one day and a very nice bangarda knocked on the window.

SHe had seen him squirming and looked in, she was surprised to see he had actually got the belt on. She said her kids were the same. So after that I told him he was the seat belt sheriff and it was his job to make sure everyone in the car had their seat belt on 'properly'. Never had a problem after that. In fact now he's 7, he asks me have i got mine on!

Its disgusting to see adults belted up and their kids are not. How inconsiderate is that? I'd never put my childs life before my own. There are plenty of graphic ads out there showing what can happen, aimed at the parents, who are responsible for ensuring their childs safety.

taylouhan

Ya I would never drive the car with my daughter without her seatbelt on,for a while alright she kept taking it off or pulling it down across her waist so I told her straight out she has to wear it in case of an accident or she could get hurt,it didn't scare her or shock her...now every time we get into the car it's the first thing she does and she makes sure eveyone else does too...she's only just turned 4 by the way.Kids are alot more intellegent than we give them credit for,all they need is to be taught the information. It can be hard for parents to drive a car and control a number of kids in the back seat who won't do what they're told, I think calling to schools would be a great idea.

Nevyn

As far as my kids are concerned the car won't start until the seat belts are on.

bronte

Glad to hear it girls.
Jesus I wouldn't even think of getting into a car without the belt on.
It frightens me to think that peeps would let their kids travel unstrapped

GirlInterrupted

Perhaps there should be a charge of endangerment enforced and extra points on the license for unrestrained children. Make an example of one neglectful driver and they'll think twice. I often see it too and it never ceases to amaze me.

John Mason

i seen cops pulling over some idiot woman who's daughter was hanging out the back sit window at croke park.

stupid fu.cking idiot, anyone who allows their children to sit unbelted in a car should have their car taken away from them.

I used to work in an different area dealing wtih car crashes and the amount of children killed or seriously injured due to not wearing seat belts is horrendous and there is absolutely no need for it

Pigletlover

This drives me absolutely crazy, especially when I see a small child standing between the two front seats. What chance does the child have if the driver has to brake? I'd love know why anyone would do this, at this stage everyone has to know the risks of leaving a child unrestrained so why would you put a child at risk?

Sangre

used to hate wearing the seatbelt and would always take it off on the sly

John Mason

Sangre wrote: »

used to hate wearing the seatbelt and would always take it off on the sly

well then your parents should have taken you out of the car and left on the side of the road tbh

Black Swan

keefg wrote: »

During the 8am to 9am and 2.30pm to 3.30 pm school run I have seen an amazing amount of women driving to and from schools with unrestrained children jumping around in their cars.

If it happened in the So Cal city I currently live, or the one I just moved from, the police would pull these women over and cite them (big fine too)!

Femelade

WindSock wrote: »

Yeah actually I was thinking of that too. Maybe have someone go around to schools and talk to them, maybe hand them out non-graphic leaflets to take home to show the folks. Or get them to draw pictures of themselves belted up in the car.

My daughter has come home from school for the last 2 years with a badge with "SeatBelt Sherrif" on it. She loved it! and was always making sure i had my belt on before i drove. Sometimes on my way to work i will drive to the entrance of the estate to where she gets her school bus, i mean its less than a minute drive, but we would still both wear our seatbelts.

stovelid

I was passed out not so long ago on the motorway by a car that had a unbelted kid standing up and leaning on the dashboard. :mad:

Oryx

Its laziness I reckon. I know my kids love taking off their belts and trying to annoy me. If I'm in a hurry it is a big nuisance to have to pull over, stop the car, threaten all sorts, and wait till they are re-strapped in before moving on. It bugs the hell out of me, but I couldnt drive my car without everyone strapped in. It feels reckless and unsafe even if I dont have mine on, even for a second. Those mums you see just couldnt be arsed to 'waste time' stopping and controlling their kids.

I've seen the effect when I stop my car suddenly with shopping on the seat, it goes everywhere. I dread to think what would happen to a child similarly loose on the seat.

Rozabeez

Maybe if they do it to annoy you, you should totally lose the plot once, then they'll never do it again?

Oryx

Rozabeez wrote: »

Maybe if they do it to annoy you, you should totally lose the plot once, then they'll never do it again?

Whose to say I havent already?:D

angelfire9

Have to say i have never had a problem with my daughter and her seatbelt (she's 7 in august) she does it automatically when she gets into the car
Of course it probably helps that her dad is a cop so we're a fairly law abiding crowd!

Rozabeez

I think with one kid it tends to be easy, but with more than one, without sounding like an idiot...but they like to gang up on the parent and annoy them.

Glowing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JURPvy6sRWQ

Lifelong driving ban ......