Seat belts

Just last evening I delt with a 52 year old friend that used to argue with me about the #@**# government not being able to force us to wear seat belts and helmets. He is on total disability, many times it is imposible to follow his conversation, he is totaly bankrupt with a excess of probably $120,000 in unpaid hospital bills-(after insurance). Yes, it was only about twenty MPH driving into the sun on his new motorcycle. He to this day still mentions that he could have broke his neck if he was wearing a helmet. I guess he still is as smart as the pavment he bumped his head on. Not so much as a stitch in his head, or bandage, just slight road rash.

It makes me very proud to have refused my son when he turned fourteen and could aford his first moped. Good ol unpopular dad said a helmet on the head before the engine was started or no moped being started. NO EXCEPTIONS was my final coment regardless of anyones age. He was bullheaded and sold his moped the next week because his buddies made fun of him. I am proud that me, his dear ol dad was as bulheaded as the son.

I wish they would research on how to make helmets cool so all the kids with 4 wheelers would want a fanny flag and a helmet. I'm a old man who can't seem to retire from the EMS and fire department, yet I still get tears in my eyes like the ladies do everytime we go to accidents involving kids or teanagers. Many times it is way to late to kick mom and dad in the backside for not taking control. It seems harder to shut my big mouth when a mother is screaming for us not to let her kid die as we lay a blanket over the motionless body.

Sorry folks, I just get this way, and now my mind goes farther yet on the subject of those very inexpensive life jackets and smoke detectors. Best just wait on those so you can all eat the easter candy that was origanly intended for your kids and grand kids. Have a Happy and safe easter.

When I was married, my wife refused to wear a seat belt when I was driving. She said it would be my fault if she was killed. Go figure.

SDE

According to his passanger, they were not going fast. As I understand it, there was not a scratch on the jeep or on the boy. He looked like he was sitting there sleeping, but he was dead.

For everytime there is someone who claims a seat belt would have killed them - there are hundreds of times when the seat belt would have saved someone.

I started wearing one in my twenties, I feel naked without one these days.

This happened 3 weeks ago today. #1 son and his 2 buddies were on their way back to college from a 'campout' and rounded a corner on a hill and hit a blowover off a hayfield. They were moving about 30 mph when they went into the guard rail. They were all wearing their seatbelts and walked away with big eyes and brown pants as their worst injuries. The machinery in an easy fix, The kids would not have been.
No off topic here, if we can't live with a degree of safety, old iron would be the least of our worries.

My brother rolled his pickup July of 2006, walked away with scuffs and bruises - still won't wear his seatbelt and it makes me angry that he is so selfish. Both vehiles are 98 Dodges, mine was a Neon and his a Ram Cummins.

Wear your seatbelt! It will save your life!