Is it possible that more pedestrians are being injured since the introduction of seat belts?

I personally don't like wearing seatbelts, although I am quite prepared to admit that they have saved the lives of many people involved in road traffic accidents.

I am convinced however, that peoples driving has got progressively more aggressive since the introduction of seat belts.

Drivers seem to have mis-applied the benefits that this type of safety equipment provide (air bags also now having a similar effect), and instead of thinking of the benefits as a positive improvement for their own safety, they seem to convert the added protection into a negative force that allows them to drive more recklessly, on the basis that their seat belts will protect them in the event of an accident.

As drivers are proceeding faster and more recklessly and dangerously, more pedestrians are being involved in accidents with moving vehicles.

A similar effect is I think noticeable since motorcyclists were forced to wear crash helmets. They also seem to drive more recklessly, and now cyclists
Additional Details
I agree that more vehicles probably automatically equates to more accidents, but it is the psychological factor that I refer to. Drivers seem to be thinking I cannot be damaged therefore I can go faster.

You have only to look at cyclists to see the effect of helmets becoming commonly accepted equipment. They now ride at speeds that are frequently faster than cars they are travelling beside and between. Bycicles may be able to go faster with modern gearing but cycle brakes have hardly improved at all, and the only part of the riders body that is protected is their head. But still they ride like maniacs bent on their own distruction. For the most part, cyclist do not observe the traffic regulations that are supposed to apply to all road users. They frequently jump traffic lights, use pedestrian crossings as cycle lanes, and make turns without signals (which I do realise are difficult to make). All of which has got decidedly worse since they started wearing helmets.

Aces'n'eights

An experiment was conducted at ENCAP (safety testing centre in europe) with two cars. Both were identical, but they told the drivers that car A had no safety systems and might actually catch fire if it crashed, car B however was fitted with every imaginable safety system and was virtually indestructable.
Every driver slowed down in car A and drove recklessly in car B.
Your point is absolutely true. People will drive to the limit of the machine if they believe its capable protecting themselves or others in a crash.

Right or Wrong

The statistics do not support this view.

Well said! People would drive more carefully if there was steel spike projecting from their steering wheel.

As an ex-biker - victim of 3 times "sorry mate I didn't see you even though you had your headlight on" accidents - I have decided that people are clueless. Put everyone on a moped for 2 years - compulsory - and see how they suddenly learn road skills and driver awareness when they are behind the wheel of a car.

kristilkleer

I think you're way off base. I won't disagree that some (a very few minority) might actually get a false sense of security while wearing a seat belt, but the majority of our traffic vs. pedestrian accidents have nothing to do with seat belts.
I think the more cars you have on the roadways the more accidents and this is the cause of the increased accidents.

Kitty Katty

There are no figure or stats to support this theory. However, more pedestrians ARE being injured becaush THEY are wandering around and crossing roads with their mobile phone glued to their ears and not taking any notice of their surroundings and ignoring basic road safety.

blueinksky

Wow!
Never Thought Of That, You Have A Point Actually.

lilmissdisorganised

I think that more pedestrains are being hurt because more high performance cars are now on the road than pre seatbelt law times.

UCANTCME

Seat belts hold you securely in place. If you are a driver, this helps you control the car in a crash situation.

Seat belts slow down the second collision - the human collision. Even in a low-speed crash, a person not wearing a seat belt hits the inside of the car with the force of many times their own weight.

Seat belts protect everyone in the vehicle. Serious injuries often result when people are thrown into each other during a crash. Seat belts can help prevent this hazard.

Seat belts give you a greater chance of escaping serious injury. If you are not wearing your seat belt, you could be thrown from your vehicle:

through a windshield or door
into trees, telephone poles or rocks
or run over by your own or someone else's car.

It is important to realize that air bags do not take the place of seat belts. When activated, airbags reduce the forward movement of the upper torso and minimize impact, but these inflatable crash devices are designed to provide protection in front crashes, not side or rear collisions or rollovers. With an air bag, you can still be thrown out of your car, so always wear your full seat belt assembly.

Some people worry about the effect of seat belts in crashes which result in fire or being submerged under water in a river or lake. Less than one-half of one per cent of injury causing crashes have these results and even if they do, a seat belt can save your life by keeping you unhurt and alert, allowing you to escape.

driver_man37

im sorry but your question does not make any sense to me let me explain why your question reads

Is it possible that more pedestrians are being injured since the introduction of seat belts?

is it possible you mean passengers ask any driver what their interpretation of the word pedestrian is and im pretty sure they will reply a person walking along the road or crossing the road these pedestrians would'nt even be in your vehicle how could they be injured by a seatbelt of a vehicle they are not travelling in im going to assume you mean passengers and no i dont think more of them are injured since seatbelts were introduced if you look at the accident and injury figures since they became compulsary yes there are still accidents but fewer people are being injured and killed so i would conclude they have helped to improve road safety and reduce injuries and fatalaties

pbleek

I have a an opposite view, in my experience people who wear seat belts acknowledge that they can get hurt in an accident, people who do not wear seat belts have little common sense and are reckless drivers.

wastedarse

well it is true but people hurt themselves all the time but death or pain its your choice welcome to legend of the hidden seat belt olmec whats the grand prize seeing ur kids grow old and dying a not so retarded death

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