Let’s face it. When it comes to lame excuses, cops have heard them all. Wouldn’t you like to know what NOT to say if police catch you NOT wearing your seatbelt during the Memorial Day Click It Or Ticket enforcement campaign...
Dear Editor,
Let’s face it. When it comes to lame excuses, cops have heard them all. Wouldn’t you like to know what NOT to say if police catch you NOT wearing your seatbelt during the Memorial Day Click It Or Ticket enforcement campaign?
Here, in no particular order, are the Top Ten Excuses known to law enforcement officers and highway safety offices across the country for NOT buckling-up. Sure, we’re showing you these just for fun. But below each one is the reason that excuse won’t get you out of a ticket if you don’t click it. And we’re showing you that too, just to save your life..
EXCUSE #1: “I’m afraid of getting trapped in a crashed car.”
If you’re not buckled-up at the time of a crash, you’re more likely to be killed or knocked unconscious and unable to get out of the car at all. If you are buckled-up, you’re more likely to stay in place and remain conscious, in control of the vehicle, and able to make smart decisions that will save your life. (Please move on to the next excuse.)
EXCUSE #2: “It irritates the skin on my neck or chest.”
Most newer vehicles have adjustable shoulder height positioners that allow you to adjust the shoulder belt up or down for a more comfortable fit. For older cars, some drivers wear clothes with a higher neck to provide some extra padding. But affordable after-market safety belt neck pads are also available at most stores where auto parts and accessories are sold. (This works for me.)
EXCUSE #3: “It makes me feel restrained.”
Incredible! That’s what it’s supposed to do. In a crash, this remarkable device actually holds you in your seat so you won’t be tossed around or thrown out of the vehicle where you’re four times more likely to be killed than if you remain in the car. FUN FACT: Driver side seat belts are designed to allow free movement of the occupant until a crash occurs (or until you slam on the brakes!)
EXCUSE #4: “I’m too large to wear a seat belt. It doesn’t fit.”
It’s back to the auto parts store for you! You can purchase a seat belt extender for just a few dollars, which usually resolves this issue, restores your comfort, and makes you a law-abiding driver again.
EXCUSE #5: “I can’t look over my shoulder before turns.”
Yes, you can! A seat belt restrains your chest, NOT you head. (Please try another excuse.)
EXCUSE #6: “I Forgot.”
Really? Most cars now come equipped with those annoying seat belt reminder systems that keep beeping when the seat belt isn’t buckled. So after you forgot it, you must have ignored it.
EXCUSE #7: “Nobody tells me what to do in my car.”
Well, nobody but the folks who issued your driver license. Under the law, driving is still considered a privilege, NOT a right. So many states have traffic laws that mandate what motorists can and cannot do. It’s illegal to drive drunk; it’s illegal to speed; and yes, with few exceptions, it’s illegal to drive or ride without a seat belt in Georgia.
EXCUSE #8: “I have an air bag. I don’t need a seat belt.”
These new car safety devices can be confusing until you understand how airbags really work. They’re designed to function in conjunction with seat belts, NOT as independent restraint systems. They are NOT soft, cushy pillows. Air bags inflate at an amazing 250-miles-an-hour (the blink of an eye) and begin to deflate immediately after deployment. If you’re not buckled-up, you’ll land in the airbag. Since it starts to deflate immediately, you’ll still be at risk to crash into the steering column.. or through the windshield.
EXCUSE #9: “I can’t wear a seatbelt because I can’t feed my baby with it on.”
We call this Distracted Driving and it’s a killer. If you’re driving, your eyes should be on the road. If you’re trying to feed your baby who is safely secured in the backseat, you can’t possibly be focusing your attention on the road ahead and you’re risking both of your lives! So here are a couple safe parenting tips: If you’re a passenger and need to feed your baby a bottle, sit in the back seat with the baby. Both of you should be properly restrained. Nursing mothers should never feed a baby while the vehicle is moving. If someone crashes into your car, the laws of physics will make it impossible for you to hold onto your baby. Pull over to a safe location to nurse.
EXCUSE #10: “I have a medical condition. I can’t wear it.”
Finally, here’s a valid excuse! But only if you can show a medical note written by your doctor. Be sure to carry it in your purse or wallet so it remains with you if you are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle.
But remember, in our 2006 crash count, 1,308 Georgians were killed in motor vehicle crashes. About half of those fatalities died in collisions where the victims weren’t wearing safety belts and didn’t live to warn you about their mistakes. But ask any of Georgia’s 8,215 motor vehicle crash victims who were unrestrained and injured in 2006 and they’ll tell you, NO EXCUSE is worth the knowledge that all their pain and suffering might have been avoided in the two seconds it takes to buckle a seat belt.
Please remember to buckle-up this Memorial Day. Every seat. Every Trip. Every Time.
Bob Dallas
Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety