Ok, now then, the
one input you all have been wringing your hands about, awaiting anxiously, or
dreading?mine.
I have owned 3
Imperials over the last 11 Years. After I acquired my first, the ?63
Custom 4dr Southampton, I sold my ?87
Chrysler LeBaron, which technically is Imperial related, at least genetically,
and more directly through the Bastardized use of the LeBaron model name.
All with the exception of my current ?66 Crown Convertible Coupe ? Doris to
her adoring fans, have been involved in an accident, or incident that involved
the use of, or lack thereof of seatbelts. This (essay?) will describe
the benefits of, as well as the long term effect of, and consequences of
either wearing by law, or CHOICE not to wear seatbelts in any one given
car. I will go in chronological order.
1.
1987 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe ? Every option available except overhead console,
and obvious lack of convertible top. This car was equipped with not only
3 point safety belts, but passive ones at that. The shoulder strap was
connected to each of the two doors, in the lower left if I recall so as to
have the effect of when you got in and closed the door your shoulder restraint
was already in place. You still had to manually pull over and connect
the lap portion, which, arguably, is of the most and highest benefit. I
did receive lower insurance rates for this item in its day for having passive
restraints. It should be mentioned for those whose blood pressure is
currently rising over the idea that this was passive and therefore your
personal choice had been removed by corporate America that one could unhook
the shoulder strap if need be, but for the need to do some sort of work on the
car, or to access something within the vehicle by leaning in, there (in my own
mind, which of course is of a purely different, complex and extremely
NON-Imperial related topic) was no need for. You could always contort
yourself to get under and past the belt to lean into the
car.
On 6/6/02 while
driving in fairly low speed 4 lane traffic in a mall area setting, which is by
it?s very nature, busy, erratic, and poses one of the most unpredictable
scenarios for sudden and unexpected appearance of vehicles to which one must
be aware of, and their actions and behavior. I was leaving the mall area
heading eastbound and just pulling into a left turn lane with a dedicated left
turn green arrow, and not going any faster than 20 mph at that moment since I
was already slowing to stop at the light, when suddenly a K-5 Cubby Blazer
making a right turn westbound onto Northgate way, after failing to make a
complete stop as required by law when turning right on a red light, (Note
here: there had been light rainfall about 20 minutes earlier, and the blvd is
2 lanes each way with a dedicated turn lane in the center for left or right
turns into various strip mall shopping parks) the kid driving the Blazer did
as kids are wont to do, he punched it to squeal out making the turn.
With the wet pavement, and all other elements involved he spun out, lost
control, flew across two lanes of traffic and hit me head on from the left (my
left front) corner inward. I of course saw the burnout attempt, and loss
of control, and the rather large Blazer heading strait at me. Upon
impact I was in the position of being completely rigid, standing on the brakes
with my back pushed into the seatback while trying to turn my car to the right
to avoid the imminent collision. I remember the impact, and moving
forward in the now stopped vehicle, but was held back, very forcefully, by the
now locked shoulder strap. I remember my collar bone taking the brunt of
the seatbelts restraining action, keeping me from hitting the steering column
or worse yet, dash, or windshield.
The kid jumped
out of the virtually unscathed Blazer, and started yelling ?OH, MY GOD, IT WAS
COMPLETELY MY FAULT, ARE YOU OK?? in front of witnesses, thankfully. I
was dazed, my door stuck for a moment until I put my shoulder into it and it
popped open. I could not see forward well due to my hood being for all
intrinsic purposes now a rock shield for my windshield. I thought I was
fine, filled out the police report, had the car towed directly to a known
reputable body shop, and was driven home by the attending officer at the
scene. Within a week though I was in terrible pain, could not stand for
long periods in one place, could not lie comfortably, and had pain in my neck,
shoulder, and down the left side of my back along the spine.
I sued, won, got
a huge settlement, but to this day have neck problems, which I have to have
surgery on at least once a year (surgery only because they put me under) where
they ?Shotgun approach? inject Cortisone into my C-4 to C-7 Cervical area,
which stops the pain for several months until it returns and I can no longer
look, comfortably to the left. Without any doubt whatsoever, that
shoulder restraint not only caused the neck injury, but kept me firmly in
place, and prevented much more serious injuries had I struck the wheel, dash,
windshield, even with lap belt on.
2.
(And much shorter) In my ?63 Imperial I was in traffic, stop & go,
on 10/5/05, when the car in front of me hit the brakes, I hit mine, stopped
well short of the vehicle in front of me, and just as my cars rear was
dropping back into place after the sudden stop, I heard ?SCREEEEEECH?
and still had time to turn my wheel to the left, and let off the brake before
the car hit me from behind. I heard glass, hissing, and pieces settling
to the ground all around. I was fine, got out, pissed to no end that
surely my tail lights had been broken, to see a totaled Isuzu I-Mark sans
bumper, and punctured radiator fluid pouring onto the pavement, hood buckled
into rock shield for windshield position. My ?63 was unscathed but not
for two small scratches on my bumper from where her car?s collapsible bumper
had something come thru the outer shell and scratch mine. I made her
insurance re-chrome my bumper though, just ?cause I could. Sued, got a
huge settlement, etc... The ?63 was equipped with seatbelts (two fronts,
two rears) from the dealer, but the owner had removed them, but I had them
re-installed. As this was a rear ender, they served no real benefit,
whereas head restraints would have been much more useful. I suffered
aggravated re-injury to my ?92 neck/shoulder/back issues.
3.
While driving my ?60 Crown Convertible Coupe on I-5 at 70 miles per hour, top
down, car NOT equipped with seat belts, and I did not install them, my front
left tire shredded itself, causing much flying debris, which not only did
damage to the wheel well, my left eye, but had the effect of pulling the car
over two lanes, while I slid across the seat toward the passenger side due to
not having been held in place by lap belts (the one day I had the arm rest in
the upright position!), had I not grabbed the steering wheel with my left hand
and pulled with all my might, things could have been much worse. I did
not hit any one, but much swerving by cars in the immediate vicinity occurred
to avoid collision. I had lost my brakes due to tire debris somehow, and
had to use the driveline parking brake to get the car off the freeway and to a
stop for AAA to come get us.
Seatbelts are not
the bureaucratic idle-while conception of some poor bastard within the Federal
government to f**k with the auto industry, and the nation?s populace, but are
indeed designed for and intended for the life saving benefit of said
populace. If your car has them, most, if not all states require the use
of them. If your car is pre-1966 and was not optioned with them, you are
by no means required to install them as your car is Grandfathered, and
exempt. Installation of the proper belts for your car, in the proper
color, with the proper buckle that whatever make of car you drive used at the
time, is in your best interest, and for you benefit. You do, as stated
in previous posts have the choice not to use them, but as has also been said,
your choice NOT to use them via self-righteous indignation should not, and
could/should maybe by law have the effect that no one, Medicare, Medicaid,
private insurance, other involved parties insurance be responsible for your
own, in effect, self inflicted injuries. The law could be passed, but
not the removal of Medicare, or Medicaid since those are public assistance
programs to help indigent folks who are physically destroyed, or brain dead,
or for whatever reason receive the required care necessary to sustain some
sort of existence, if even just a nursing home for those who are in a coma
from flying thru the windshield, or injuries sustained via any other venue due
to lack of seatbelt use.
Like my parents
said: ?You can do anything you want in this life, including commit
murder should you so choose, as long as you are willing to live with, or pay
the consequences of your choices/actions. Think through what, or how
your choices/actions will ultimately affect your life and the lives of others
before taking any action of great importance.? To me, at least, seatbelt
use is one of those choices and after the ?60 Crown vert incident, I
choose to use
seatbelts in any car I own, original equipment, dealer installed, sans
seatbelts, or otherwise will have fully operable, maintained in good working
order seatbelts. To operate a any car without them, to me, is just as
ill thought out as would be removing your brake lights because you don?t like
the draw on the electrical system.
I hope everyone
has a great Friday (try to leave early!) and an Imperial weekend enjoying your
favorite Marque.
From the original
Public Service Commercials of the 60?s ? ?Buckle up for safety, buckle up!?
sung by chipper young people to a snappy little tune.
Wm. R.
Ulman
?66 Crown
Convertible Coupe ? Doris Day ? WA State vanity plates: FIT4AQN
?95 Buick
Roadmaster Sedan ? Rock Hudson ? WA State vanity plates:
FIT4KNG
(FT4AKNG just did not look right, please pardon my
inconsistancy)
Seattle, WA
twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx
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