Not wearing of Seatbelt Q?

Stinicker

I was wondering if I as an adult with a full Irish licence would receive penalty points for not wearing my seatbelt in another persons car with me as a passenger? The thought occurred to me yesterday when I saw the Gardai having some one pulled over what looked like belt usage.

Also what is the story re: Seatbelts in the rear of the car; are you supposed to wear them?

G_R

Stinicker wrote: »

I was wondering if I as an adult with a full Irish licence would receive penalty points for not wearing my seatbelt in another persons car with me as a passenger? The thought occurred to me yesterday when I saw the Gardai having some one pulled over what looked like belt usage.

Also what is the story re: Seatbelts in the rear of the car; are you supposed to wear them?

It shouldn't really be an issue tbh, just wear it. It could save your life.

Stinicker

dannym08 wrote: »

It shouldn't really be an issue tbh, just wear it. It could save your life.

I always wear it when driving and when as a passenger, yesterday I was eating takeaway in the car as a passenger without my seatbelt on and saw that fella getting a ticket and then it realised could I get penalty points on my licence even though I am a passenger.

Hooch

No as a passenger and an adult you cannot receive penalty points.

The points are for the driver only. (for them personally or if they allow kids be unbelted.)

cynder

I always thought you could get
penalty points on your licence if your a passenger and not wearing a seatbelt and over 18. Well it seems the passenger gets a 60euro fine and that's about it.

Can anyone explain to me again why this is a law? I'm sure I've heard the other side of the argument before, but can't really remember.

If an adult isn't wearing a seatbelt, he is only really endangering his own life. Surely that's a choice that should be left up to himself as personal preference, and shouldn't be enforced by law?


Personally I always wear a seatbelt. I wouldn't feel right sitting in a car without one.

MagicSean

Deleted User wrote: »

Can anyone explain to me again why this is a law? I'm sure I've heard the other side of the argument before, but can't really remember.

If an adult isn't wearing a seatbelt, he is only really endangering his own life. Surely that's a choice that should be left up to himself as personal preference, and shouldn't be enforced by law?


Personally I always wear a seatbelt. I wouldn't feel right sitting in a car without one.

It is the law so as to reduce road deaths and injuries. And he is not just endangering himself, he is endangering everyone in the car.

MagicSean

grindelwald wrote: »

I always thought you could get
penalty points on your licence if your a passenger and not wearing a seatbelt and over 18. Well it seems the passenger gets a 60euro fine and that's about it.

Not all passengers have a driving licence.

Ian Beale

Deleted User wrote: »

If an adult isn't wearing a seatbelt, he is only really endangering his own life. Surely that's a choice that should be left up to himself as personal preference, and shouldn't be enforced by law?

If a car gets impacted on the side and the person isn't wearing a seatbelt they'll hit the person in the seat beside them, likewise if there's someone in the back without their belt on they could go forward hitting other passengers on the way. Ever see the ad where the young lad in the back goes forward on impact and hits the front passenger on the head?

potsy86

the driver is in charge of the car its up to him/her to make sure you have your belt on the passenger wont receive points but a fine and the driver gets frowned upon and belts should be worn in all parts of the car after all the one witout the belt does the damage have a look wont let me embed it as im under 25 posts but its a prime example its an irish add you've prob seen it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPFJAiPe5M

TylerIE

Deleted User wrote: »

If an adult isn't wearing a seatbelt, he is only really endangering his own life. Surely that's a choice that should be left up to himself as personal preference, and shouldn't be enforced by law?


Personally I always wear a seatbelt. I wouldn't feel right sitting in a car without one.

While I understand you do wear one for anybody else who thinks that it may be your choice to wear the seatbelt but that decision also has too many knock on consequences in the event of a collision -

for the driver and any other passengers, their increased injuries.... and for the driver (if they live) knowing that they drove someone to their death, even if they werent at fault...

For the ambulance crew who have to work their way around your minced body to get to the other passengers - and if your still alive who have to triage between you, the driver, and the occupants of the other car involved (if any)... who have to cover or transport any limbs that went AWOL in the impact... who have to console another driver over being involved in a fatal incident...

for the firecrew who have to remove your body and that of the others... and sweep the glass, blood etc of the road afterwards... and go home to their families....

for the other driver who is left blaming themselves for your death or injuries and that of the other occupants of your car - even though their injuries may have been minor if you had worn your belt - and who may not have been at fault for the accident in the first place but will always blame themselves for "killing" someone

for the Gardai who have to preserve the scene, deal with traumatised witnesses, cover any body parts that are gone from where they should be, supervise the body removal... who are oblidged to treat the incident as a crime scene and therefore are forced to carry out formal, intimidating procedures with all drivers involved - despite these drivers likely being traumatised and seriously upset and after all that have to tell your family what happened?

and thats asssuming you die.... if you live theres A&E, ICU, years of Rehab... and of course the huge financial burden on your family and the state...

all because someone cant be bothered to wear a seatbelt???

lst

lst wrote: »

For the ambulance crew... for the firecrew... for the Gardai, A&E, ICU

Ah sure they don't mind. Keeping them in a job




Seriously though, yeah, I see the other side of it alright, but just glazing over that law and never having really thought much about it, it always struck me as a bit silly. Suppose when you look at it in-depth...

DrIndy

If you are in a newish car with the uptodate safety features and are wearing your seatbelt - there is a good chance you will survive with minimal injuries even a 100km/h head on crash. Its amazing and I've seen it.

If you are not, then even exceeding 50km/h is a real death sentence.

Wearing seatbelts is not the law, its enforcement of simple common sense. I have a friend who regularily forgets his seatbelt and has a habit of unbuckling it to get something from his pockets. I pull over the car and refuse to budge until its back on!

sdanseo

DrIndy wrote: »

Wearing seatbelts is not the law, its enforcement of simple common sense. I have a friend who regularily forgets his seatbelt and has a habit of unbuckling it to get something from his pockets. I pull over the car and refuse to budge until its back on!

I'm the same, don't drink so always the dessie and won't let them in without putting it on - ive got torrades of drunken abuse for that one but I'm not thrilled by the idea of braking suddendly and being clobbered by one of them!

McCrack

From a legal practise point of view anybody injured in a car accident as a result of anothers negligence will be entitled to compensation but if that person was not wearing their seat belt their quantum (amount of money) awarded will be reduced by around 30%.

In legalese it's called Contributory Negligence...i.e by not wearing your belt you have contributed to the injuries you have sustained from anothers wrongdoing.

angrykoala

DrIndy wrote: »

Wearing seatbelts is not the law, its enforcement of simple common sense. !

just so nobody gets confused...it is the law

source

A good advert for wearing your seatbelt.

deadwood

...and even though "i'm only harming myself" by not wearing one, i'd be a drain on resources such as emergency services, hospital, medical cards etc.

Smilarly, a Health and Safety offcer wouldn't allow me to paint my own upstairs window sills (from the outside, smartarses) using a bunch of milk crates piled up to make a scaffolding. Even though it's my property and my neck, i'd be using other tax payers to pay for my own neglience.