In 1977 I had a crash at 50MPH into the back of a Volvo Parked in the centre lane of the M4 at night because the driver wanted a kip there was know way I could have seen it he had switched his lights off.(Police words not mine) Both my then wife and I were not wearing seat belts and I was trapped in the car (which was leaking fuel) by my legs. The Police and Ambulance crews finally got me out(no fire brigade the t ossers were on strike)
It was not a legal requirement to wear belts then but if it had been I wonder what injuries we may have avoided.
So just to let you know what injuries we had.
My wife came off best with a broken arm and minor cuts(she went into the footwell.
I ended up with a smashed ankle,broken kneecap, ruptured hands a large cut across my forehead and I sunk my teeth into my lower lip which effectively gave my another mouth,both those scars are still visible today.
Fortunately a car behind that saw the accident had three nurses and a doctor in it on their way back from interviews in Swansea who gave first aid.
So back to your post.
Yes the victim could just be yourself but in my case it was the cost involved to emergency services.the highways agency for replacing two sections of Armco,my wife’s treatment and physiotherapy a week in hospital for me and six lots of surgery on my ankle and overnight stays in hospital for it. I did not mention various trips to my GP to remove windscreen glass that kept surfacing from my face over the next two years.
All for not wearing seat belts. So what is the true cost of all that?
In my opinion Seat belt fines should also have 3 points on the licence as well.
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