I have been asked many times over the years my stance on seatbelt usage. I have also been asked the same regarding wearing a helmet and other safety gear when out on a motorcycle. First off when using and/or wearing safety equipment there are no guarantees. Injury and/or death can happen at any time at any speed regardless. That is fact plain and simple. My automobile accident at the end of 1991 convinced me of the value of seat belt usage. One can not escape seat belt usage today with all the bells, beepers and whistles making a racket to remind one to buckle up. No airbag was deployed because my vehicle at the time didnt have em. My injuries were bruised/cracked ribs, bruised chest cavity area, bruised/cracked left collarbone, right knee hit something which hurts ever so often to this day. W/o seat belts there is no doubt I would have crammed into the steering wheel, dash and probably into the windshield. And possibly into orbit!! The results of would not have been pretty Im sure. The major motorcycle wreck waaaaay back in 1978 involved slamming into a KY signpost and the bike cramming into a guardrail with yous truly bouncing off something else. The road? I dont remember. But my head did hit something because there were skinned up and scrubbed up marks on top of the helmet which DID PREVENT a real head injury for sure. In my opinion all this adds up to I believe we are better off using the safety equipment as compared to not using it. Yes its aggravating to put that helmet along with other gear on, on a hot day and buckling up can be a PIA. But I still believe in the using the gear! That is all.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 18:16:47 +0000