@HipKat: with a parents arm for a seat belt.

I didn't go strictly by the weight and height thing. Was too ridiculous for my situation. Even the rear facing rule. If I went by weight, it would have been more dangerous because of where his head was on the back of the carrier. Whiplash risk. I did keep him in a booster longer than his twin but at some point that went away too.

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There weren't seat belts in the 1950 2 1/2 ton farm truck. We went all over the place with grandpa in that. Of course, I don't think it went over 40mph.... BUT, we sat all the way back in the seat, as still as a statue and quiet as a church mouse. No screwing around. Sometimes, if it was a short distance we'd get to ride in the bed part of it!And just like CJ, mom was the seatbelt in....a 1970 Chevelle Malibu, which later became my first car.

I hear "...and we survived", but that doesn't make the old way safe. My mom was in a crash and my brother went to the hospital. How many people are NOT here today today to say "...and we survived"?That said, I think exercising common sense is in order.

Maybe if cars could only go 40 it would be better. Instead of mach 1+.

You know when I flipped at the speedway I was glad I had a racing harness on but the burn marks on my body didn't like it. When things happen that are unexpected you will be thankful for what ever reason. Buckle up unless you have a drivers pass from your doctor. Really for the streets today speed limits are there for a reason. Why do they sell cars that go over 80 any way. I haven't seen any speed limits here over 80 by law.

@AverageJoe: And how many die, trapped by a seatbelt?The problem is we live in a world where we've been brainwashed to fear the worst in everything. WTF?? that's messed up, just being afraid ALL the time,. Even when you don't think you are. Your subconscious has been programmed to be scared.Optimism is dead

Accident is what its called so if you die from a seat belt in the accident it happens. I wear one cause I don't want to be stopped and given a ticket. I have paid for not wearing a seat belt. When you get 3 that are moving violations they take your license. Insurance also has a play in this to you may not have one on and you may loss your case in court for failing to obey the law. I wouldn't want that on my shoulders if by accident I happen to of killed some one.

I think they make these laws because they have been shown to make things significantly safer. I, as a parent, feel it is my job to keep my kids as safe as reasonably possible. I personally think that keeping them in the backseat until they are at an appropriate height and weight, is a reasonable request and not that big of a deal.

@HipKat: my neighbor would rather pay the ticket. he will not wear a seatbelt. when he was younger he had picked up his friend for school, or something along those lines, was speeding down the street at mach1 and crashed. the crash sent his friend through the windshield and killed him. my neighbor spent 5 years in prison for that. funny thing is, I have seen and heard him (my neighbor) tear out of his driveway and floor it on the street because he was having a hissy fit. I have heard him yell at other people to "slow down!" when people are driving to "fast" because *his * kids are outside. that man is one of the reasons there are the laws. society MUST be protected from the hypocrites. just sayin.

I don;t disagree with that, BUT, society on a whole does not ot be overly protected because there is .001% of the population that acts like that. 1 bad apple does not really ruin the tree

I hardly think making choices that improve the safety of my child and myself means optimism is dead but u guess it does mean I am smart. ehs.okstate.edu/kopy kit/seatbelt.htm

@HipKat: no, but it sure makes you stop and look for that one bad apple.

I don't live in fear. I put my seatbelt on because I don't want my head to hit the windshield in a small crash, forget about any major crash. Odds of hitting your head into a windshield in a front or rear crash are much higher without the seatbelt. Simple science.Wearing a seatbelt does not equate to living one's life in abject fear.