Driver Thanks Officer Who Gave Him Ticket

WPBF West Palm Beach ^ | September 15, 2010

[reagan_fanatic]

The fireman on scene said had he been wearing his seat belt, he would most certainly have died. But we don’t hear these stories.

We don't hear about them much because they are a small minority. Most people survive a crash because they wore their seatbelt - that's a fact.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

What a sweet story. It is about graciousness and someone reaching out to the person he credits with saving his life.

[ohioman]

Woopty f*ckin Doo!

I have a friend whose life was saved because he did not have a seat belt on.

[Spok]

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that seatbelts and motorcycle helmets are a good idea. This is the kind of guy who would learn bomb disposal by the trial and error method-sometimes you just have to use your brain.

[libstripper]

Just remember the late, air headed, dim witted Princess Di. Of the four people in her death car, only the young security guard in the right front seat, who used his seat belt, survived.

[IYAS9YAS]

I have raced everything from karts (no belt), to outlaw karts (karts on steroids - 500cc two-cycle dirt bike engines, wings, roll-cages and 5-point harness), to open-wheeled sprint cars, and street cars on autocross tracks and drag strips. I'll not drive anywhere without a seat belt.

That being said, it's not the state's business.

Truly ridiculous story: Back in the early 90s, a buddy of mine had his VW bug run into in a parking lot. He wasn't in the car, he was in the store shopping. The first thing the insurance company asked was if he was wearing a seat belt. The only way to answer was "yes" or "no". He said no, they tried to raise his rates because of it.

[IYAS9YAS]

If I ever was in a rollover, I’d just brace my legs against the seat and hold the wheel tight so I don’t move.

Guessing sarcasm. If not, then I say "Good luck with that."

[allmendream]

Studies have conclusively shown that wearing a seat belt increases your chances of survival and decreases serious injury when involved in a car crash.

If my friend had been wearing his seat belt, he would almost certainly have survived the wreck that claimed his life last week.

[allmendream]

I remember the movie “Fearless” with Jeff Bridges.

Guy survives a plane crash. Another survivor is wracked with guilt because she was holding her baby during the crash and it was torn out of her arms. She lamented ‘if only I had held on tighter!’.

Jeff's character takes her in a car and gets her to hold a 20 lb sack. He tells he to be sure to “hold on tight, tight as you can” and then he slams the car 30 mph into a wall. The sack went flying!

I don't think people really have any concept of the magnitude of the forces involved and how quickly they are applied.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Apparently bikers have better lobbyist than the general motoring public."

Neurosurgeons can be a demanding group with deep pockets.

[ErnBatavia]

I broke 7 ribs on my left side

Ouch....I always commiserate when I hear such things; I've had ONE cracked rib a couple of times, and it's agonizing trying to get a decent breath, let alone any sleep.

[IYAS9YAS]

Cars were built to take crashes better than the plastic hunks of junk of today. The bumpers of yesterday would total out the cars of today.

Untrue. I used to think the same thing until I watched this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQvd5_PMACI

In 1967, the Chevrolet Nova underwent a major change toward occupant safety. Outwardly, the vehicle wasn't changed much, however the interior went through some big changes. The dash was no longer simply a metal dash, but was padded to help prevent severe injury should the passenger come into contact with it. The steering column was also re-designed to collapse upon impact, lessening the hit to the driver's chest, and the steering wheel was padded. The car only came with lap belts, and in a frontal collision, the driver and passenger were very likely to impact the dash or steering wheel.

[Joe Boucher]

No.
Rush lives about 55 miles south on Palm Beach.

[Joe Boucher]

What I’m curious about is where in the freaken constitution does it give the gub mint any power to force seat belt use?

[Kakaze]

Wear your seat belt....................with that said, seat belt laws are a way around the 4th amendment, it gives any LEO a reason to pull any one over.

All they have to say is "I could not tell the person was wearing the belt" once you are stopped they can initiate any search they chose.

[GOYAKLA]

Morticians/Undertakers will make sure you will have a freshly ironed shirt, no wrinkles, when they show your remains. Unless it is a closed coffin.

[Don W]

THIS video rather effectively refutes your claim about surviveability, don'tcha think?

[Albion Wilde]

I said a prayer for the policeman who gave him a ticket. My son paid the $ and I thought if it keeps him from getting in an accident, it was well worth it.

Yep -- been there. Had several officers of the law have little chats with my offspring before any serious trouble arose (that I know of). Offspring between the ages of 15 and 25 are a large source of anxiety to parents, because they are testing their limits all the time.

[Albion Wilde]

God bless you and the angel who threw you!!

[MuttTheHoople]

Two of the ribs broke in two places and one punctured a lung. A month or so later, we were watching the Miss America pageant. My sister, and her 20-something friends, were getting sloshed on wine and bashing the contestants (as any group of 20 and 30-something single ladies will do). Anyway, they had to make my sister stop her “ballet dance” (she had just enough as an 8 year old to have some sort of “form”) when I started laughing so hard my ribs began killing me.