this could go on forever with people having differing opinions.
examples of rights and wrongs are everywhere, cyclists that could wear cycle helmets quite often don’t despite it being safer, riding on a cycle path on the pavement along the side of the road instead of riding on the road is safer but how many do you see riding on the road?
all the evidence for seat belts is based on car accidents and not trucks, speed cameras are tested on cars only, not trucks or bikes or vans and yet we are supposed to believe that a truck will not affect the camera configuration despite a massive increase in vibration as it passes and the huge mass of it.
motorcyclists know how dangerous it is out on the road and should wear leathers etc. but how many do you see in the summer with t-shirt and jeans on?
at the end of the day the seat belt is only used to it’s full potential in the event of an accident, at all other times it gives a feel good factor for safety purposes, one has to wonder if without the seat belt on if drivers would drive safer through fear of being in an accident and thrown through the window screen.
so lets look at other dangerous things while driving.
drinking water/pop or hot drinks is dangerous and a road safety hazard for everyone but cars and trucks come complete with cup or can holders so the driver and passenger have somewhere to put the cup/can/bottle.
smoking in trucks has been made illegal in scotland and is quite likely to be made illegal throughout europe but truck makers are still fitting ashtrays in trucks.
sat nav systems have been blamed for a large number of accidents and vehicles travelling down roads and dirt tracks and getting stuck but they are probably the biggest selling in car device this year and for the past 2 years.
mobile phone usage while driving is illegal but i see more people driving and using the phone than i see without seat belts on, how many people do you see at fuel stations with earpieces on talking as they are fuelling up?
not wearing a seat belt whilst driving puts just one person at risk - THE DRIVER.
the seat belt rules came in arse about face, the front seat travellers had to wear them - then some years later back seat passengers had to wear them too, it’s the back seat passengers that are the danger.
i wear a seat belt in the car out of habit, but in the truck i just cannot get comfortable and so don’t wear it and i am not alone either - i see a lot of hgv and van drivers without a belt on and most passengers too which in my opinion is more dangerous, at least the driver has the steering wheel to brace themselves and they know whats happening before any passenger would, the passenger has nothing at all to stop them from taking off through the windscreen.