For police, not wearing seat belts can be fatal mistake

[cpzilliacus]

Washington Post: For police, not wearing seat belts can be fatal mistake

By the time his police cruiser tumbled to a halt in the underbrush beside the interstate in August, the young police officer had been flung clear of the car to his death, the same fate that had been suffered by 139 other officers nationwide who were ejected from their vehicles when not using a seat belt.

Though most state laws require police to use seat belts, federal data show that only about half of them do, and over the past three decades, 19 percent of the officers killed in accidents were ejected from their vehicles.

[NE2]

Dog bites man.

[bugo]

Do as I say, not as I do.  Typical government employees.

[Brandon]

They do plenty of dangerous things on the highway.  Not wearing seat belts, standing outside the scout car on the freeway to perform speed patrol, parking the scout car in the crossover in the median, etc.  Personally, I think people need to start recording these unsafe activities and post it on the web for all, including the cop's supervisor, to see.

[Beltway]

There is a big difference between civilians and police officers when it comes to seat belts.

Several Richmond police officers have told me basically what is quoted here --

'Police officers who don't buckle up say they might need to jump out of their cars to arrest someone or to stop a shooter, and the belt could slow their response. Or worse, the myriad equipment on their gun belt could snag and they would become trapped.'

'"I don't wear mine, and I'll take my hit for whatever happens, because if somebody starts shooting at me, I'm not going to get caught in the car," said Randy Brann, president of the Norfolk police union.'

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/02/study-police-officers-often-shun-their-seat-belts

........

Police work is risky.  A Virginia state trooper was killed while directing traffic at the highway in front of the state fair a couple weeks ago, he got hit by a car.

[nyratk1]

Do as I say, not as I do.  Typical government employees.

Typical humans. Hypocrisy isn't just a government thing.

But law enforcement is ripe for it, yes. They crave power and generally have black & white thinking. but they'll break their own rules because the rules are beneath them. Look at things like Abner Louima, treatment of Occupy Wall Street, or that handicapped man with no legs in Houston. They can be manipulated and they can get bloodthirsty. Our militarization of them has made it just that much worse.

[bugo]

A couple of years ago a cop was killed while trying to make a U turn on the Will Rogers Turnpike (I-44) in NE OK.  If you haven't driven this highway, it is a 4 lane freeway built using one carriageway, with a jersey barrier in the middle.  The median is VERY narrow.

[bugo]

There is a big difference between civilians and police officers when it comes to seat belts.

Several Richmond police officers have told me basically what is quoted here --

'Police officers who don't buckle up say they might need to jump out of their cars to arrest someone or to stop a shooter, and the belt could slow their response. Or worse, the myriad equipment on their gun belt could snag and they would become trapped.'

'"I don't wear mine, and I'll take my hit for whatever happens, because if somebody starts shooting at me, I'm not going to get caught in the car," said Randy Brann, president of the Norfolk police union.'

It doesn't take much time to unbuckle a seat belt.  It takes more time and effort to open the door than to unbuckle the seat belt.

[Beltway]

There is a big difference between civilians and police officers when it comes to seat belts.

Several Richmond police officers have told me basically what is quoted here --

'Police officers who don't buckle up say they might need to jump out of their cars to arrest someone or to stop a shooter, and the belt could slow their response. Or worse, the myriad equipment on their gun belt could snag and they would become trapped.'

'"I don't wear mine, and I'll take my hit for whatever happens, because if somebody starts shooting at me, I'm not going to get caught in the car," said Randy Brann, president of the Norfolk police union.'

It doesn't take much time to unbuckle a seat belt.  It takes more time and effort to open the door than to unbuckle the seat belt.

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

[sp_redelectric]

Several Richmond police officers have told me basically what is quoted here --

'Police officers who don't buckle up say they might need to jump out of their cars to arrest someone or to stop a shooter, and the belt could slow their response. Or worse, the myriad equipment on their gun belt could snag and they would become trapped.'

So why not work with the manufacturers to redesign the seat belt for police cars so as to create a "quick release" - maybe a steering wheel button that when pressed immediately unlatches, and retracts, the seatbelt (probably with some kind of breakaway for the shoulder belt)?

If Chevrolet can redesign the driver's seat to be more comfortable for officers with their duty belt in the new PPV, surely a seatbelt can be redesigned...

[Kacie Jane]

I believe Beltway and the officers he's quoting.  I think it is plausible that sometimes wearing a seatbelt could be a fatal mistake for officers.

However, I'm extremely skeptical that wearing a seatbelt isn't the better option far more often.

[SteveG1988]

Solution:

Bring back automatic seatbelts. open the door, you are unbelted.

[Scott5114]

Another solution:
Redesign the tool belt so that it no longer interferes with the seat belt.

[Beltway]

Another solution:
Redesign the tool belt so that it no longer interferes with the seat belt.

How do you do that?  The duty belt is what it is, and it goes around the waist.

[Brandon]

There is a big difference between civilians and police officers when it comes to seat belts.

Several Richmond police officers have told me basically what is quoted here --

'Police officers who don't buckle up say they might need to jump out of their cars to arrest someone or to stop a shooter, and the belt could slow their response. Or worse, the myriad equipment on their gun belt could snag and they would become trapped.'

'"I don't wear mine, and I'll take my hit for whatever happens, because if somebody starts shooting at me, I'm not going to get caught in the car," said Randy Brann, president of the Norfolk police union.'

It doesn't take much time to unbuckle a seat belt.  It takes more time and effort to open the door than to unbuckle the seat belt.

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

It's a bullshit answer.  They're just not interested in wearing it.  If they were, they'd find a way.

[Beltway]

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

It's a bullshit answer.  They're just not interested in wearing it.  If they were, they'd find a way.

You obviously don't know anything about police work.

[Special K]

Washington Post: For police, not wearing seat belts can be fatal mistake

They crave power and generally have black & white thinking. but they'll break their own rules because the rules are beneath them. Look at things like Abner Louima, treatment of Occupy Wall Street, or that handicapped man with no legs in Houston. They can be manipulated and they can get bloodthirsty. Our militarization of them has made it just that much worse.

That escalated quickly.

[jeffandnicole]

A) How often are police shot at while in their car?

B) Provide us with a comparison of officers that don't wear their seatbelt to those that do wear their seatbelt, and the response time and success rate of jumping out of the vehicle to catch their intended target.

[Scott5114]

Another solution:
Redesign the tool belt so that it no longer interferes with the seat belt.

How do you do that?  The duty belt is what it is, and it goes around the waist.

Instead of letting it remain what it is, you make it not be what it is and you make it be something different.

[Special K]

Another solution:
Redesign the tool belt so that it no longer interferes with the seat belt.

How do you do that?  The duty belt is what it is, and it goes around the waist.

Instead of letting it remain what it is, you make it not be what it is and you make it be something different.

Fanny pack.

[agentsteel53]

Solution:

Bring back automatic seatbelts. open the door, you are unbelted.

wouldn't the lap belt still be a manual item?

[kphoger]

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

It's a bullshit answer.  They're just not interested in wearing it.  If they were, they'd find a way.

You obviously don't know anything about police work.

Apparently the other 50% of police officers don't either??
You know, the ones who do buckle up.

[Brandon]

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

It's a bullshit answer.  They're just not interested in wearing it.  If they were, they'd find a way.

You obviously don't know anything about police work.

Um, yes, I do.  My grandfather was a City of Detroit policeman for many years, including through the riot.  Don't tell me I know nothing of police work, pip squeak.

[NE2]

Well, I have a telegram (remember those, kid?) attesting to the fact that my grandmother was the first to use the IDiOT meme.

[Beltway]

As pointed out above, the duty belt with all its equipment adds considerable complexity to quickly removing the seat belt.

It's a bullshit answer.  They're just not interested in wearing it.  If they were, they'd find a way.

You obviously don't know anything about police work.

Um, yes, I do.  My grandfather was a City of Detroit policeman for many years, including through the riot.  Don't tell me I know nothing of police work, pip squeak.

Your grandfather??  Apparently I am a good bit closer to police work than you are. 

Here's a hint -- most state codes have at least partial exceptions in seat belt laws for certain classes of operators, police included.  My state Virginia is one of those.  For example, in a high-speed chase the seat belt is required.  At low speeds of say 10 mph while searching for a perp the seat belt would not be required, for the reasons I provided.

46.2-1094 B2 states that law enforcement officers are "Exempt" from having to wear the seat belt under certain circumstances.
Other Exemptions:
Taxi drivers
Meter readers
Newspaper delivery drivers
Rural mail carriers
Solid waste collectors
Parking ticket officials

Such as unbuckle it when pulling up to a call prior to stopping, when cruising slowly through an area, when anyone comes up to the car, and in several other unpredictable situations. The belt easily tangles up in the duty belt, pops out the flashlight, covers the gun so you can't get it out, and can be dangerous in some situations.