Why is it difficult for Filipinos to wear the seatbelt?...

@aseretdd (13730)
Philippines
November 19, 2012 3:20am CST
I learned how to drive in a US Naval Base and they are very very strict when it comes to wearing the seat belt... and now that i have been driving here in the Philippines for a year... i never leave drive without using the seat belt... when i ride the bus... weird as it is for other passengers... i wear the seat belt... it is also cardinal rule for my kids to wear this when they are riding any private vehicle... I think if the jeep or tricycle have this... i wouldn't have second thoughts in wearing the seat belt... others may think this is a bit too much... but this simple action could have saved a lot of lives during accidents... Do you wear the seat belt?... or do you feel there is no need to?...
4 people like this
16 responses
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
19 Nov 12
We are fined here if we are caught not wearing seatbelts inside vehicles. All vehicles must have proper working seatbelts. And it is also against the law when we have more people in a vehicle than the number assigned by how many seatbelts are in the vehicle. An 8-passenger van must have 8 working seatbelts and occupied by no more than 8 people, for example. Maybe the law is not as strict in some other places.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (84651)
• United States
19 Nov 12
How much is your fine? Where I live we get a twenty dollar ticket.
2 people like this
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
19 Nov 12
A friend of mine had to pay a $150 ticket! Plus she got three demerit points against her license... She was driving her teenage son and both of them had been wearing seat belts. For some reasons her son took his off when they almost reached their destination which was only few blocks away from their house. And there he was, a cop spotted them... How unlucky is that, huh? And it takes three years to wipe off those demerit points here...
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
3 years and 150 usd is just too much... the place where i learned how to drive... i they police caught you not wearing a seat belt... that would be 2 demerit points... good thing i was always wearing mine whenever i was flagged down... here in my country i don't even know the fine for this violation... if ever they did instill this fine... the country would be filthy rich by now because there are so many violators...
1 person likes this
@nelerkz (467)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I'm not usually wearing seat belt but I know that is very essential, but the good thing is you are so conscious when you are inside of any types of vehicle. I salute you! :)
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
Then you should get used to wearing the seat belt... here in the Philippines, the traffic enforcers are not that strict... but there are times when they really check... and getting caught can really be a hassle... beside... it could safe your life in case an accident happens...
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
As a habit, I do wear a seat belt even if I am in a taxi. The driver of older taxis would tell me when I am trying to look for the seat belt that they have removed it, much to my amazement. It has become a habit for me to use the seat belt when I learned how to drive. Now, one of the reasons why other people never learn how to use it or make a habit out of it, is that the people who taught them to drive never also wore seat belts. I have seen this from my best friend who also makes it a habit to use the seat belt and have those who ride in the passenger seat of her car use it too. I know someone else who never uses a seat belt because he doesn't like how it stretches across his body, and I learned that the person who taught him how to drive did not put much importance on the use of a seat belt.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
Oh my oh my... it is like a sort of culture... where people just learn it from someone close to them... i just hope that more and more people would be conscious enough about their safety and just wear the seat belt... it is no that hard to do...
@youless (112096)
• Guangzhou, China
20 Nov 12
I think this is a habit. And it needs a long time to form a habit. Since wearing the seatbelt is already a long time habit for Americans, so they will wear it when they get on the car. Whereas in my country, not everybody has this habit yet. Usually just the driver and the passenger or sits besides the driver will be punished if they don't wear the seatbelts. This rule may make people to remember wearing the seatbelts. But I think it still needs the time.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
I agree that wearing a seat belt needs to be a habit so that people would just wear them... but people should also think that it this simple act can save their life... there should be a very strict implementation of this law...
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
That is one perfect example of how some Filipinos would be so lax in obeying such law. They do not realize that every time they leave their homes and ride on a car, there is a great chance of not being able to come back again because of an accident. Why wouldn't they just abide by the rules when it is for their own safety? The answer is : they lack discipline. Take for example the OFWs. When they are in another country, they follow the rules that the country impose. You would not catch them crossing the street just anywhere they want. You won't see them littering in the streets. All because they are afraid to be apprehended. And while here, some Filipinos would always make a way to get themselves out of trouble. And by what? By bribing authorities.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Hello Jenny, because the punishment is severe in other countries, they have no choice, they are disciplined. I think the reason why they are less disciplined is because the law enforcement isn't as strict like in other countries. sometimes the people can get mad like that amalayer girl did. I remember a couple of times were after the carabuera incident a lot of similar incidents of drivers hitting on traffic enforcers. sad to know, that's why we don't progress here.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
I agree... implementation of laws here in the Philippines is not that strict... it is like there are laws but we may or may not obey them... but in other countries... punishments are quite harsh so people are forced to obey the law...
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
People should learn from their mistakes. And also they should learn not to resort to "under the table" transactions. Who should we blame for all these- the offenders that will bribe an authority or authorities receiving bribes? Whether the punishments for the law that they broke is harsh or not, still they need to do whatever is asked by the law.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Nov 12
There are a lot of Filipinos who used to be like that! And I don't know what's the matter with them??? May be it's a waste of time for them to put on their seat belts. :)
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
23 Nov 12
Waste of time then a waste of life if an accident happens... Filipinos are just not used to it... and the implementation of the law is so lax... i just wish that even if there is no law people should still wear their seat belt...
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
I think seat belt usage has just been recently introduced here in the Philippines. Although seat belts are in existence for quite sometime but they are not used by many for the simple reason that they are not used to wearing this since time immemorial they learned how to drive. It has only been implemented strictly when a law was passed for mandatory use of this device on all vehicle. But nowadays it looks like the law is again not being implemented strictly anymore since I can see some cars do not use this in their cars anymore and no one is monitoring this anymore.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
I think it has been more than 10 years since a law was passed regarding the wearing of seat belt... but sad to say that it is only strictly implemented along NLEX and SLEX... but not in the most dangerous roads like EDSA... it should be strictly implemented... but i just do not know when that will happen...
@AmbiePam (84651)
• United States
19 Nov 12
I always wear my seatbelt. If you don't and the cops catch you, you get a twenty dollar ticket. I don't want a ticket and I don't want to get in an accident where I'm thrown through the windshield. I'd definitely rather just wear my seatbelt. When I was a teenager my dad had a rule: if my sister and I were ever caught driving without our seatbelts, he'd take away our car keys for two weeks. That's big to a 16 year old.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
Your father was very strict... but that was for your own good... my father wouldn't start the car if even one of his passengers was not wearing a seat belt... and i followed that rule... better safe than sorry... that is what my then 8 year old niece would always say...
• United States
19 Nov 12
I wear a seat belt. If I had my personal choice I probably would not. The law says I must wear a seat belt and my car beeps at me if I don't...so I do :-D
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
I get to see that seat belt sign blinking in front of me when the passenger seat belt is not being used... and it still blinks even if i am the only one in the van... i got used to it... there is a law here in my country that we all need to use the seat belt... but only a few follow this...
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
A lot of reasons - laziness, discomfort, aversion to or lack of respect for authorities and laws, lack of education, among others. But one other thing I noticed is that most common people have no role model to follow. I mean, they see rich and highly educated people not wearing seat belts, so why should they also? Also, the seat belt law isn't implemented effectively. Like you said, our jeepneys aren't equipped with seat belts for the passengers, and to think that each year these vehicles are registered with the transportation office, and they pass inspection.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
I really hate it when jeepney drivers pretend to be wearing their seat belt... where in fact it is just the strap that is not even securely locked... then those who only were it when LTO officers are doing a routine check... people should understand that this can or may save their lives...
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Hello asertdd, because they are lazy and they don't care. And when an accident happened they would beg for help and then when they recovered, they forget again. We have lack of discipline in our country and act lazy all the time. good thing I have a brother who always prioritize me to put up seat belt in his car. he knows the importance of this safety specially if an accident comes. it's their fault if they get the accident with out wearing any kind of seatbelt. have a nice day
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
The driver should always be responsible in reminding his/her passengers to wear the seat belt... i have never heard the taxi driver, bus driver, or any PUV drivers remind their passenger to wear their seat belt... i think only the airplane pilots would give such a reminder...
@Danzylop (1120)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
Filipinos do wear a seat belt specially when there are traffic cops ahead. But me, I always wear them not because there is a P1,500 fine if caught not wearing it. Even when riding on a motorcycle, I always wear safety gears. That is how important safety for me.
1 person likes this
@jdalaqui (1073)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Seat belt are very important but yeah, here in the Philippines, there is no iron hand implementation of the rule. YOu should not stop wearing on seat belts even if the others don't.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
Believe me... i would never ever stop wearing my seat belt... mainly because i want my kids to follow my example... and i want all of us to survive in case of an accident (I hope and pray to God that would never happen)... it just pains me to see others who do not even care...
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Come to think of it, I noticed that too. About way back in year 2000, LTO is so strict when it comes to wearing seat belt, but now they focus more on the the drivers license and if the plate number is up to date. But considering the accidents this days, where in lots die instantly in car accidents, I don't think car's seat belt will be enough. But you have your point, simple things like wearing belt can save a life. :)
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
19 Nov 12
I knew one person whose life was saved by the fact that he was NOT wearing a seat belt, but that is probably a rare exception. It is the seat bags that I fear most, because studies have shown, apparently, that although they save men's lives, they can be a great danger to women. As I have a fear of burning in a car that bursts into flames, I also fear seat belts, as I should not like to be trapped in a wreck and unable to get out of an overturned vehicle, for example. I do agree with you that children should wear them, but in my view adults should be allowed to decide for themselves. Here is an interesting debate on this subject that I found after typing the above paragraph: http://www.debate.org/debates/There-should-not-be-a-mandatory-seatbelt-law/1/
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I used to drive without wearing any seatbelt. I was thinking that it is such a hassle and I do not need it. But when traffic enforcers started arresting people driving without seatbelts, then I was force to do so. Now it has been a year that I drive with my seatbelts and the thing is, even without the arresting officers, I do wear the seatbelts. I have been accustomed to wearing it and I now realize that it is really important for safety.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
It is a good thing they you had a change of heart when it comes to wearing a seat belt... i know of some people who would have been still alive if only they wore their seat belt... and some more who are still alive because they simply wore it... Thanks for the response...