A seatbelt saved my life
Many years ago, I got into a car accident. I kept mum about it because I didn’t want to create havoc, especially at home. I wasn’t badly hurt after all, but I was traumatized. More than that, I was embarrassed. My friend, who had a little too much to drink, got behind the wheel. I, tipsy as well, got into the passenger’s seat. “Don’t Drink and Drive” warnings escaped us. I suppose we were having one of those “I’m young and invincible” moments. “Stupid” should’ve been a third adjective.
Kept in place, kept alive
I was in a deep sleep on the way home. Then my eyes flew open when I felt my body jolt violently forward. I was thrown a few inches off my seat, the windshield centimeters away from my face. I gasped for breath as my chest felt momentarily trapped. It happened in less than three seconds, but appeared like it was in slow motion. I still remember every detail clearly.
My friend’s car smashed right into a bus’s rear end. There were no pedestrians. I looked to my left and saw my friend looking lost, but not in pain, his air bag fully blown up.
There was a burning sensation on my chest. I pulled down my shirt’s neckline and saw a huge diagonal red mark right across my upper chest. The seatbelt. It was what trapped my chest for a split-second, what kept me from flying into the windshield. The seatbelt. It only took me seconds to be thrown forward, but the weight it put on me was strong enough to keep me from hitting my head against the windshield. The deep red mark hurt and burned, but I was relieved, so thankful that nothing worse happened.
With the car smashed, ourselves distraught, my friend placed a call to his folks. His parents (both doctors) checked on us and saw that we were not physically harmed. Off they went, smashed car and all. I went home, climbed into bed, shaken, thankful, shocked and ashamed.
Smart enough to strap in
There are two lessons here: Drinking and driving is dangerous. That experience partly ended my stupid “young and invincible” days. The second lesson is to always wear your seatbelt. My friends and some relatives get irritated when I keep reminding them to strap in. I know it saves lives. I know it. It’s not just another safety precaution that should be taken lightly. It does save lives. It saved mine. Getting into a drunk driver’s car was the most stupid thing I’ve ever done. Thankfully though, I was still smart enough to wear my seatbelt.
Why am I sharing this? I was looking through YouTube and came across this video. It made me shiver and remember that traumatic evening. Not a lot of my friends know about that experience, but here I go, writing about it now. Perhaps my words can help a reader or two. If my words don’t work, perhaps this ad will.
There is always a reason to wear a seatbelt
Ironically, it’s easier to say “no” to riding in a tipsy friend’s car than it is to say “no” to wearing your seatbelt. There is always a reason to strap in: It will save your life. Please don’t use excuses like:
“I’m just going to the store that’s a few blocks away.”
“I’m a great driver, don’t worry.” But what about other drivers?
“I’ll see it coming.”
“My car has airbags.”
“They’re uncomfortable.” There’s a proper way to wear a seatbelt. Make sure the straps fit you snugly on your shoulders and your hips. Perhaps you can slacken it just the slightest. Or get seatbelt extenders if they fall short of strapping you in. You just have to get used to it.
So please. Do wear your seatbelt. It saved my life. It could save yours too.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
It was stupid of me to get into a drunk driver’s car, I know. I’ve learned from that. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life but that was the most stupid. I guess I was thinking “Oh, this won’t happen to me.” But it did. And thank God my brain was still working enough for me to strap myself in.
This happened ten years ago. I never wrote about it, didn’t tell that many people about it. Why? I felt so stupid and ashamed. I still feel ashamed of that stupidity. Something compelled me to write about this experience though. I don’t know what it is but I felt I had to. I know of so many who hate wearing seatbelts; I do hope they’re reading this now. I hope it doesn’t take an accident for some people to realize how important wearing a seatbelt really is.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I personally refuse to drive a car unless every passenger has their seatbelt on.
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October 1st, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Someone above must be watching over you too Toni and that seatbelt definitely helped!
Here in Australia it’s compulsory to wear a seatbelt for safety, otherwise there’s a huge fine for it and demerit points. When you loose all your points then you lose your license too.
Drink Driving adverts are regular here on tv and it seems quiet effective.
I to am paranoid about putting seatbelts on while in the car.
Better be safe than sorry di ba?
This might be a bit disturbing to watch but it’s an example of some of the adverts here in Australia about wearing a seatbelt – warning ha.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYCwaiaC1Ag
I think it’s quite provocatively scary and that’s why it’s effective here.
–Miss B
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 am
proud of you for having that habit of seat-belting. I’m so used to wearing it sometimes when i sit down to watch a movie (in the theaters), i reach up by my shoulders looking for a seat belt haha
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 am
Thanks for sharing, Toni. I’m ashamed to admit that SEVERAL TIMES, I’ve gotten into a car drunk myself, with a tipsy driver. And everytime, of course, a small voice tells me not to, but like you say, youth, you know? I always strap myself in though. Or did I? See, I don’t even remember, and that’s a SCARY thing. That proves your point. There’s a lot more to live for now that I’m older and have had a richer life. Your post reminded me to be even more vigilant–and not just about my own habits, but others’ as well. Thank God for seat belts, guardian angels and good sense!
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 am
thanks for sharing your experience toni. it really is an eye-opener when it happens to *you* di ba? there are strict laws here to wear seatbelts so i’ve always worn one; and strict car seat laws. i’m super-obsessed with making sure the car seat belts are tight and snug for the kiddos.
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October 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Oh yes, very soon, God-willing, hubby and I will be checking out cars and I will make it has a strong seatbelt to it. Thanks for sharing this Toni!
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October 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
this is so courageous of you not only to tell drivers what not to do (drive when drunk), but also to come out in the open to tell your own “shameful” story of riding with a drunk driver if only for the good of your own readers. no “don’t drink and drive” ad will drive home the message stronger than this little, humble, post. the public owes you one, toni.
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October 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I also wear seatbelts when I ride or drive a car. It has become a habit when my uncle died in a car accident in Batangas in 1990. Ironically, he also had that habit of strapping in except for that one trip with his friends because the place they were going to (from one point in Batangas to another) was so near.
In relation to seatbelts, babies should be placed in car seats. Check out the winner of American Inventor Season 1 where a Polish inventor designed a car seat patterned after a mother’s womb. Basically, the car seat is placed inside a half bubble and in case of a car crash, no matter how many turns or tumble the car takes, the car seat ends right side up so the baby isn’t stuck upside down. The inventor designed it after he lost his infant child and wife to a horrible car accident.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
ireland has the most dangerous roads in the world, with road accidents higher than anywhere else. most fatalities are due to unstrapped seatbelts. the ads in the tv are so harrowing, in the government’s increased efforts to raise awareness especially to the young drivers.
i hope lots of people will learn from this post. whether i am in the front or back seat, i make sure i’m strapped on. better safe than sorry.
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October 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 am
One of the first driving lessons I was taught was using the seatbelt. Now, I can never drive without fastening the seatbelt, even if it’s just moving the car a few meters. Safety first. It’s a lot better than being sorry later on.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
to be honest, i’ve driven drunk once. and i SWEAR, I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!!
don’t be ashamed… be happy that youre still alive! coz i’m happy youre still alive and i have a quirky friend
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October 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
you were saved because you need to tell us a lot of wifely stories. and your story is also a story of a lot of teenagers who wish they did what you did.
i was saved by a seatbelt too – many times and the mark on my chest is the mark that I made the best decision to strap up….ang hirap tumayo from bed di ba?
thank you for reminding a lot of people that kahit sa traffic pwede ka pa ring maaksidente…God bless you for sharing
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
whoa, that was scary! im glad you were alright.and thanks for the reminder, i tend to take the seatbelt for granted myself. i always tell myself im a careful driver.. but you’re right, it’s a bad reason.
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October 4th, 2008 at 1:27 am
i think you were saved to become an advocate. by sharing your story, the importance of wearing seatbelts has become more personal for some of us who take it for granted. and also, as junnie said, to share your wifely stories with us.
i will have to add, too, the importance of having a car seat for kids. before coming here to the US, i wasn’t particularly concerned about belting kids down to those seats (especially when they cry and scream to get out, nakakaawa). but now, i have a constant fear na Ninna might fly through the windshield if i don’t buckle her up, even if we’re just driving a couple of blocks away. now, kahit car seats are not mandatory sa pinas, i still bring our trusty car seat/booster with us. and yes, you can be a good and sober driver, pero you will never know about the ones around you.
thanks for sharing your experience, toni. i hope this was cathartic for you and you can now sleep better at night knowing that, with this story in your own little way, you may save lives.
October 4th, 2008 at 4:37 am
I attest to this entry because a seatbelt saved my life (and the hubby’s too). In 2000 we had a front collision with an inexperienced driver. He ran the red and we were already going straight. I had major bruises in my abdominal area and I was thankful that my reproductive organs were okay. It was very scary like you said and I honestly don’t know what would’ve happened if we weren’t strapped in. I can’t stress it enough about the importance of seatbelts. They’re not an option, they should be used.
I also hate it when I tell my parents to buckle up and they grumble about it.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
That must have been really scary. I think that the seatbelt law should be strictly enforced. Manila isn’t exactly a driver’s heaven..more like hell, actually. It should be a must to buckle up..always.
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October 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
My husnband always make it a point to wear a seatbelt. Sure we live in the Philippines where it is not that mandatory. But we placed it upon ourselves to wear it everytime we’re riding in a car.
Good for you for wearing that seatbelt! And I sure am glad that you shared this story with us.
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October 31st, 2008 at 12:51 am
I always wear seat belt no matter where I am seated. As drivers it should be our responsibility to make sure our passengers are wearing seatbelt
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Great post. I am a driving instructor and, although by law, anyone 14 or over can decide whether they wear a seatbelt, if I have passangers I would always ask them to put their seatbelt on. Even at 35mph you can be killed when not wearing one, because you experience 3 ‘mini’ crashes if you have a crash. Your internal organs carry on travelling until they hit the inside of your body, and this can rip them out, (what happened to Princess Diana). Most people don’t wear seatbelts when they are near their house and in their ‘comfort zone’.
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May 11th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I can’t believe that people would drive without wearing a seat belt! They must be mad!
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