[rant mode/on] Anyone see the new advert about not wearing your seatbelt? It has got me really annoyed.
Transcript goes something like this:
Now whilst I agree wholeheartedly that everyone should wear a seatbelt at all times I take umbrage with an advert that is fundamentally flawed. To change the scenario so that he was wearing a seatbelt.Richard didnt want to die but he couldn't stop himself. The collision with the car didn't kill him but he wasn't wearing a seat belt so he continued on his journey. When he hit the inside of the car (image of bloke going head first into airbag) that didn't kill him either. But his internal organs carried on travelling until they hit his ribcage (cue graphic imagery) and his lungs were punctured, and the main artery from his heart was torn (cue more graphic imagery) and thats what killed Richard.
Whats stopping you. THINK, always wear a seatbelt.
They seem to be implying that seatbelts possess some form of inertial damper system aka Star Trek style. For bleeding Zombie Christs sake seatbelts do not stop your internal organs from moving. Lets not even mention the brusing, dislocations and broken ribs and pelvis that a seatbelt can cause.[rant mode/off].......When he was stopped by his seatbelt that didn't kill him either. But his internal organs carried on travelling until they hit his ribcage and his lungs were punctured, and the main artery from his heart was torn and thats what killed Richard.
skb
Well actually yes they do. The main reason seat belts are so effective is through reduction in the rate of aortic tears. The aorta in the thorax is held in position by fibrous tissue and cannot move forward with sudden deceleration. The arch and the remainder is connected to the heart and moves forward violently in this scenario ripping it away from the portion stuck to the back. With a seat belt although there is sudden stopping there is no acceleration of the body toward a completely immovable object (steering wheel/dashboard/inflating airbag), thus the fibers in the belt have just enough give to bruise and batter the chest wall without causing ripping up to around 60mph net stopping force. With four point belts (rally cars) and further modifications as in formula one cars one can achieve much more than this.
Knowing nothing about how the aorta is held in the thorax I will have to cede that point. However, a collision whilst wearing a seatbelt can lead to broken ribs which can then cause injury of internal organs
http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/pe...ib-injury.htmlRib injury seat belt trauma can occur in even low-impact collisions when the positioning or integrity of the seat belt contributes to the damage caused in the accident. Rib injuries often cause soft tissue injuries to the organs which are normally protected by the rib cage. Rib injury can cause bruising or other types of superficial trauma to underlying organs. Rib injury seat belt trauma can also cause one or more of a victim''s ribs to crush or break.
Broken or shattered rib injuries can be very dangerous, because the sharp edges and broken portions of a damaged rib can cause serious and sometimes fatal injury to the internal organs of the chest and abdominal region. Punctured or damaged lungs, major veins and arteries, and any of the organs located in the chest and abdomen are all possible rib injury seat belt traumas that a victim could sustain in an accident.
Admittedly this tends to occur where the is seatbelt is either old, faulty or badly designed.
Lets not even mention the damage that two point seatbelts can cause as, thnkfully, you rarely get them in newer cars
skb
ETA: Im not having a pop at seatbelts, they do after all save thousands of lives every year, just the way the advert was presented
Last edited by skbuncks; 18th November 2008 at 10:37 PM. Reason: spelling
I thought the main problem with two point seat belt was that they are usually applied wrongly? They are 'lap belts' and should sit over the 'lap' (thighs), but most people wear them across the lower abdomen leading to spleen damage and other internal injuries.
(Haven't extensively researched this by any means, so stand to be corrected and would totally concur that three-point are much safer)
Last edited by MischiefMonkey; 18th November 2008 at 10:40 PM. Reason: spelling - were/wear
In case anyone missed it the advert can be seen here.
A correctly positioned two pointer (over the thighs) restrains the pelvis under rapid decelerations. However, as you point out if worn across the lower abdomen they can lead to internal organ damage. This was particularly predominant in children where their reduced skeletal size allows the seatbelt to ride above the iliac wings, thus resulting in it resting above the pelvis. here
skb
When I was a kid cars didnt even have seatbelts in the back, and it wasnt until 1983? that you had to wear them in the front.
From the font of all knoweledgeThe Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also said 6 per cent of adults fail to belt up when sitting in the front of cars, along with 30 per cent of those sitting in the back.
The figures were much worse for van drivers, with just 69 per cent wearing seatbelts alongside 58 per cent of their passengers.The Daily Mail
Maybe the advert should have been directed more towards white van drivers
skb
I recall the 70's when we went for a Sunday drive (without seat belts in our old Ford Cortina) and Dad's work's 'treasure hunt' where we followed clues in the car
When I was a baby (1969/70), Dad used to pick me up from my grandparents' after work and put me in the passenger foot well of his Ford Prefect to pick up my mum from the nursery she worked in.He put his hand on my head to stop me falling over when he went round corners
I survived, but I'm glad car safety has moved on. Even with Eldest (now 20 years old) I knew how to fit a car seat.
I am a few years younger than you but distinctly remember sitting in the front of my dads old escort when I was around 5 or 6 years old. To stop myself from sliding about I would sit sideways in the seat and brace myself against the dashboard.
There was one instance where my dad had to break hard and I ended up curled up in the foot well. Thought it was well funny at the time but cringe when I think about it now.
skb
Whilst posted in Germany I bought my first new car and when I came back to the U.K I was surprised to find that not all cars were fotted with back and front seat belts as standard, it was an extra to have seat belts even then they were static 3 point. this was in the early 80's. even then every one kept asking me why I bought "Japcrap". my easy answer was extra's where fitted as standard.
Lost Thought
I usually even harness my dogs - special harnesses that fit on the seat belts. But Buffy got herself caught up in one so I unclipped her. She got onto the front passenger seat and fell into the foot well when I had to brake moderately hardNo harm done, but had I been going faster and braked harder, serious vet bills or no more Buffy
I crate the little ones in the car now. Not easy in a Tigra.
Was Buffy named after the famous vampire slayer? In the crash I referred to above I was driving my pride and joy a BMW 3 series sports coupe (which is now sadly confined to scrapheap heaven) which I had name Drewcilla after one of the vamps (because it was sexy and deadly). Spooky, or someting more (ssshhh, I think I detect the NWO at work here)
skb
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