When it comes to staying safe on the roads, well, it makes sense to do whatever you can to minimise the risks taken. It’s obvious that moving at speed in a hunk of metal is a risk, whichever way you look at it, and the clever thing to do is to manage that risk.
That’s where seatbelts come in, or roll cages. Thing is, seatbelts are easily available, and getting into the habit of always wearing one can make the difference between life or death. And it’s about habit. If yours is not sensible, change it. Bobby Nitro doesn’t want this to sound like some sort of do-good pep talk but really, seatbelts are a basic safety measure that no one should ignore.
Some say “I’m used to not wearing a belt in the suburbs,” or “it’s important for children, but not for me as I’m a competent driver”. But these excuses just don’t stand up. Firstly, most accidents happen ‘just down the road’ (about 80% of fatalities occur within 60km of home), so a nip out to the shop is a risk. Secondly, no matter how ‘competent a driver’ you are, you can’t control others on the road. You may be good, but they may be dronk.
The driver sets the standard. If you, as the driver, don’t buckle up, then your passengers may not. Are you prepared to take that risk with their lives?
The change begins with you.