Urban 4x4 haters

[dougdeep]

Isn't it law to have belts in school buses anyway?

 

[Starry]

Yes but it's optional if they have three point or lap belts.

My son and daughter both ride in harnessed car seats, they are 8 and 5 and will not be stopping riding in a harness any time soon. I cannot install either with a lap belt.

 

[clapham_gull]

Trains don't have seatbelts and neither do normal buses.

.. I'd feel safer with a belt on a coach though it must be said.

I would often get a bus to school until they stopped the thing.

Its all about perceived risk I guess. I know a lot of mothers are worried about their kids being attacked/taken on the way to school, but in terms of risk they are more likely to be hurt in a car crash.

Anyway...

The regulations are do with the amount of fuel they consume and the degree to which they polute.

Some 4x4s are excempt, a particular Land Rover I believe which is "clean"

Oh.. you should hear the buggers complaining about their "human rights" in the Standard tonight

 

[Starry]

>>Trains don't have seatbelts and neither do normal buses.

That doesn't make it right though. This country is backward in child passenger safety it's unreal. I don't understand why people chose not to harness their children.

Ugh. People are sick of talking about it on here I bet so I won't go on. It just makes me sad that people play with their children's lives like they do

We've just order a land rover, I have no idea if it's clean or not. better had be when it arrives though!

 

[clapham_gull]

That doesn't make it right though.

I agree, always found that odd, well on coaches (not particularly trains)

 

[Marc]

Are you serious?

yes thanks

 

[Starry]

But why would you want people to risk their children's lives and have them travel improperly restrained? (And it's the same in America, which is why a lot of parents drive their children to school)

 

[Marc]

But why would you want people to risk their children's lives and have them travel improperly restrained? (And it's the same in America, which is why a lot of parents drive their children to school)

where did I say I did'nt want seatbelts? Of course safety is the prime concern and would be to me if I had kids, but bikes dont come with seatbelts and i'd rather my kids rode or walked or got on a bus (with belts to UK/Euro safety standards) to school rather than go in a car or some pointless 4x4 piece of shite!

christ...all I did was MENTION school busses as an alternative

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Yes but it's optional if they have three point or lap belts.

If there are ANY school buses round your way fitted with lap belts, then get on to the council (or the school) that is hiring them and get things changed.

They are the relics of a misguided campaign in the 1990s (by an organisation called BUSK - "Belt Up School Kids") to make school buses "safer". All the evidence is that a child wearing a lap belt will run the risk of horrenous internal injuries in a collision, combined with the likelihood of severe head and neck injuries from the effect of the top half of its body (but not the rest) being thrown forward into the backrest of the seat in front.

It is actually less damaging for the whole (unrestrained) body to be thrown forward into a shock-absorbent seat, which has been designed to give way, but not fall apart, in a severe crash.

Three point lap and diagonal seatbelts, on the other hand, have a proven safety record. They are now standard on most modern school buses. But, far too often, councils and schools like cheap (ie old) transport, because they want their budgets spent on ejucayshun.

 

[clapham_gull]

Now what I'd like to see is more pedestrian areas in London (with access for deliveries, tradesman etc..)

Ken is sneaking them in - I've noticed another pavement widening scheme going on in Camden the other day.

 

[chip]

[BWe've just order a land rover, I have no idea if it's clean or not. better had be when it arrives though! [/B]

A superb choice of vehicle, I can even run mine on cooking oil.

 

[Starry]

where did I say I did'nt want seatbelts? Of course safety is the prime concern and would be to me if I had kids, but bikes dont come with seatbelts and i'd rather my kids rode or walked or got on a bus (with belts to UK/Euro safety standards) to school rather than go in a car or some pointless 4x4 piece of shite!

christ...all I did was MENTION school busses as an alternative

A four year old belted in a three point seatbelt is a recipe for disaster.

christ...all I did was MENTION the flaws of school busses as an alternative

 

[Starry]

If there are ANY school buses round your way fitted with lap belts, then get on to the council (or the school) that is hiring them and get things changed.

They are the relics of a misguided campaign in the 1990s (by an organisation called BUSK - "Belt Up School Kids") to make school buses "safer". All the evidence is that a child wearing a lap belt will run the risk of horrenous internal injuries in a collision, combined with the likelihood of severe head and neck injuries from the effect of the top half of its body (but not the rest) being thrown forward into the backrest of the seat in front.

It is actually less damaging for the whole (unrestrained) body to be thrown forward into a shock-absorbent seat, which has been designed to give way, but not fall apart, in a severe crash.

Three point lap and diagonal seatbelts, on the other hand, have a proven safety record. They are now standard on most modern school buses. But, far too often, councils and schools like cheap (ie old) transport, because they want their budgets spent on ejucayshun.

I am a car seat technician, you are preaching to the converted. The school my children attend does not run school buses but I am well known at the council, the LEA, local schools and numerous school bus and coach companies around here for writing and calling.

There is one school that use a double decker bus, like those you get on fare pay routes to transport children. 50 children under ten with one adult to supervise. Ugh.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

A four year old belted in a three point seatbelt is a recipe for disaster.

Read all about the new Child Car Seat Regulations here

They come into force in September 2006.

An example of the changes:- Children under 4' 5" will no longer be permitted to use adult seatbelts, except in very exceptional circumstances (and then only in the rear seats). Appropriate baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions will be obligatory.

This affects all children under twelve years of age.

 

[Safeway]

We've just order a land rover, I have no idea if it's clean or not. better had be when it arrives though!

This post was brought to you by 'I'm alright' JACK.

 

[Starry]

Read all about the new Child Car Seat Regulations here

They come into force in September 2006.

An example of the changes:- Children under 4' 5" will no longer be permitted to use adult seatbelts in the front seat of a car.

Oh don't get me started on that! It's not good for my blood pressure. LOL

£30 fixed penalty fine for not adhering? It's a joke.

And why is a taxi OK to be unrestrained in and not your family car? They both travel on the same rods at the same speeds.

On the surface it's good (still waiting full approval) but it comes into force on Sept 18th and how many adverts have you seen telling us to "hug em at home, belt em in the car" or whatever their jingle is?

My children are 8, 5 and Stasia was 2 and none of them have ever ridden in a car without their five point harness seats and I've drummed it into their heads about what happens if you don't ride in a seat. They are almost as anal about it as me.

Edit - Just seen your edit. I'm a CPST and it still falls foul on a few points, it's better than what is in place now but not ideal. And it has taken too many years and too many lives to get to this point.

 

[Starry]

This post was brought to you by 'I'm alright' JACK.

My kids are safe and that is the only thing I am concerned about. So yeah, we're alright, jack.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

What pisses me off is that all 4x4 drivers are categorised together. I drive a Mitsubishi Shogun short wheel base because as a Director of a Robotic controlled demolition company I spend a lot of time driving on demolition sites, where you can't take a normal car without risking damage. Okay, I'm not driving up mountains, but the vehicle performs a specific purpose, so why should I be penalised? Fact - I get 26mpg. Fact - My vehicle is shorter than a mondeo. Fact - Most accidents are caused by (a) Drunk/Drugged drivers (b) White van drivers (c) Chavs in old novas with 4" exhaust pipes (d) Women - don't get me wrong, women don't have most accidents, but they do cause them. (await flaming)(e) Old farts / Sunday drivers (d) Guardian readers!

P.S We're all Albion supporters after all, so I forgive you all, even the leftie bastards!

 

[tedebear]

Ban 4x4's in towns and cities - its that simple....My parents are campaigning for it in their Suburb in Australia and it looks likely they will achieve it. Any 4x4 crossing into town and caught on various cctv's will get a $500 immediate fine. I'd say that'd work.

As for school - Arthur will walk and I will walk with him. I walked to school as did everyone else I went to school with - until we got bikes that is....and there ain't a stitch wrong with me...

 

[Lammy]

Are you serious?

There is no way my children will ride on a bus unless they are fitted with proper belts and car seats. Unfortunately this country is incredibly backward in child restraints and passenger safety so I doubt that will happen in my kids life times.

I drive a 4 x 4, would be happier driving something smaller but I can't fit the car seats across a car and am not about to ditch them in favour of being a bit more environmentally friendly, my kids come first.

We just went yesterday and ordered a brand spanking new 4 x 4. We have a looong wait until it arrives though.

Oh dear god...