Tool Box Safety Talk: Seat Belts

Seat Belts

Most of us have had to endure life experiences that are painful, but many learn lessons from those experiences that change our behaviour and our lives for the better.

Unfortunately, some of us never get that second chance, or even worse, we don’t learn from our mistakes and have to endure painful life experiences that can also be tragic.

So it is with seat belts. Consider this one person’s testimonial about seat belt use.

“When I first learned to drive, seat belts had been installed in cars and trucks but I can honestly say that I can’t remember wearing my seat belt very often.

That is until a day back in October of 1986. I was driving alone and another driver, who was at fault, turned their car directly in front of me.

Thankfully, both vehicles were not going fast. Nonetheless, I was thrown into the windshield because I was not wearing a seat belt.

After a hospital visit and crowns to replace the teeth that were smashed on the windshield, I had learned a very painful lesson.

In the nearly 20 years since that accident, my family has had to endure three other serious car accidents of note, all the fault of the other drivers, where seat belts have literally kept our family healthy and alive.

Each accident involved the other driver cutting in front of our vehicles.

Each accident resulted in our vehicle being extensively damaged, and most importantly, each one of my family members involved in those accidents walked away unhurt.

They walked away unhurt from those accidents for just one reason – each was wearing a seat belt.

We got our second chance and used it again and again and it’s made a difference in our lives.”

Yes, seat belts are required to be worn by the company. They’re even required by law. Yet many of  us still don’t wear them.

Furthermore, insurance statistics state that the two groups “guilty” of not wearing their seat belts most often are:

1. Drivers between the ages of 18 to 24
2. Drivers of pick-up trucks; (And what kind of vehicle do many construction & industrial workers drive? You guessed it – pick-up trucks!)

We can never “choose” when a vehicle accident will occur, so you’ll never know when you’ll really need that seat belt.

If you’re one that still doesn’t wear your seat belt, your second chance starts now. Wear your seat belt each and every time you drive.

Tell everyone in your family to wear their seat belts. It can make all the difference in the world.

And a bonus quote from Tom Bodett:

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

Thanks for the share, TO!