Would you buy a car if it didn't have air bags or seatbelts?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
August 14, 2007 8:13pm CST
It's funny to think that just thirty years ago, hardly anyone wore seat belts. When I was a little kid, I can't remember putting on my seat belt even once. Well, that is until much later into the 1980's after it became law in most areas. Sometimes I marvel at how we survived those times!
And, ten years ago, the concept of having air bags in your car was almost non-existent. And, most people just figured they were completely unnecessary. But, now all that stuff is pretty much standard in most cars. That is all except for the really old cars. Do you think you would ever buy an older car or truck that didn't have seat belts or air bags? Do you think that air bags really do save lives? Have they made driving cars safer for families?
5 people like this
13 responses
@AmbiePam (92861)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I would buy a car or truck without air bags, and I have. But I'd never buy a car or truck without seat belts. You'd have a hard time with it also because to pass inspection, a car has to have seat belts. You don't have to have air bags to pass inspection.
2 people like this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Aug 07
It's so true! And, in our state, seat belts are absolutely mandatory. Especially if one has children in the car. They are very strict and with good reason. Seat belts are mandatory. I just wish more people wore them while driving!
1 person likes this
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
19 Aug 07
These days I wouldn't buy a car without air bags or seat belts. For one thing, it would mean the car is very, very old, almost as old as I am. lol. But the safety issue is worth it. In my previous car, there was only an air bag for the driver, not the passenger. I often thought how bad I would feel if we were in an accident and my wife was seriously hurt because I didn't have an air bag for her. My Jeep now has two air bags so I feel better. Hopefully we will never need them. But I'm glad they are there if we do.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Aug 07
That's so true! And, even a low speed impact can cause damage to the spine, whip lash I think it's called. Even just 35 miles per hour, that's what I have heard. Those air bags could keep that from happening, I would imagine!
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Seat belts are definitely a must. I wear mine any time I get into a car, and I expect the same from any of my passengers. Even if I wasn't a law, it would be something I would do.
As far as air bags, I don't guess they would be something that I would insist on, but they do seem to be pretty standard now. Both our car and truck have them, and the truck is even 13 years old. I don't think we will probably ever buy a car or truck that is older than that now. So it will probably be something that is pretty much standard in any car we buy.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Aug 07
And, with a little kid in the car you are lucky to have as many safety precautions as possible! Our state even mandates that children under a certain age be in a child booster seat, because the standard seat belts don't usually fit them. I think they are just safer anyway, especially when they get too big for the baby/toddler car seats!
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
15 Aug 07
Hi.
Personally these things doesn't bother me at all. I love speed and that too in the raw form. When I am driving alone I never put on the seatbelt but still I will only go for the car or vehicle with seat belts and airbags as my car is normally driven by a lot of other people too. I do think that these thing if not more just helps you in your mind to feel just a touch secured.
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
15 Aug 07
Hi beautyqueen26! I do believe that those safety accessories in cars do minimize the damage that occurs during accidents and do save lives. However, I could not afford to buy new cars so I have to settle for a second hand one instead. It didn't have seatbelts so we have them installed separately and no airbags too. I guess, we just have to do with the seatbelts alone in the meantime. Have a nice day and take care.
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I would never buy a car without seat belts because in most states seat belts are mandatory or you get a ticket. Plus in most states if you don't have seat belts in your car it can't pass inspection. However I would not care if I bought a car without airbags. I have heard of many many injuries that are caused by air bags. So it would not bother me to not have them in my car.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
15 Aug 07
I've really never thought about airbags, but seatbelts are a MUST!!! I even with my manual wheelchair had a seatbelt, for the hills in my driveway here in Arizona. I was tossed out of the wheelchair yesterday when my fiance and I traveled over a hill the wrong way. I ache all over today. It's bad enough to have an accident in a wheelchair, I couldn't imagine not having seatbelts in a car.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I know I would not buy a vehicle without seatbelts or air bags- Not only because it would not pass inspection- but I want safety- Sure things were different back 20-30 years ago- but as technology changes- safety gets more detailed and better- So I would not purchase a vehicle without either.
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
15 Aug 07
Well like you said its law to have seat belts, so it has to otherwise it wouldnt pass rego..But I love seat belts its just second nature to put it on as soon as you hop in..But airbags, Im not really that fussed, all my cars do not have these and it dosnt worry me..
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
15 Aug 07
Just like 10 years ago or so there were no infant seats requiered!
@confido1205 (2)
•
15 Aug 07
I wouldn't buy a vehicle without seat belts. Particularly since not wearing your seat belt can get you arrested in some states.
