Deadly Consequences: Motorists Warned Against Seatbelt Buckle Inserts

[lordgrinz]

Yup, you really can't fix stupid.

[lordgrinz]

5 hours ago, hotsun said:

Didnt know these were a thing. Surely everyone must realize that all cars have seatbelts for a reason, right?

 

so instead of just using their seatbelt, thais would rather spend money on something just so that they dont have to use their seatbelt?

 

At first I thought they were warning me about the seatbelt extender I use for my child's car seat, but after reading this, I'm blown away by the level of stupidity the people in Thailand will go through to make things unsafe.

[spidermike007]

27 minutes ago, Emdog said:

I generally agree with your intelligent posts, but alas, this is not one of them.... you don't use seat belts around town?

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks motor vehicle collision data in the U.S. Routinely, the NHTSA finds that more than half of serious motor vehicle accidents (such as those resulting in injury or death) occur within 25 miles of a victim's home."

I live in a small town so my trips are generally within three or four km. of my home, and I usually use my motorbike, but when I'm in the car I don't need a seatbelt to drive 3 km. 

[Photoguy21]

3 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Not wearing a seatbelt, driving at night with no lights, and not using indicators, are all fuel-efficient practices that also make your battery last longer. 

But reduce your life span significantly

[Emdog]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

I live in a small town so my trips are generally within three or four km. of my home, and I usually use my motorbike, but when I'm in the car I don't need a seatbelt to drive 3 km. 

I guess a seatbelt on a motorbike is sort of out of the question... 😉  I did once in get in a crash at the corner of my house. Some old biddy on mainstreet had right turn blinker (US road) on and slowed down, so I foolishly assumed she would turn, so I started my turn.... bang! "I always slow down at turns" she said....

[Andre0720]

18 minutes ago, wozzlegummich said:

That is mainly because they don't want to mess up their hair.

Not true.

Perhaps more so that they want to show their fake eyelashes more clearly...

[lordgrinz]

3 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

All efforts by authorities to convince Thais to wear helmets, have failed..... Getting a bit better though.

 

Those news articles (or videos) where some of them had their brain matter squeezed out of their skulls on to the pavement after being run over by a 10 wheeled truck might be having some effect. There were a few where the helmet saved them after having their head run over, not all, but it sure leaves a lasting impression.

[lordgrinz]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

If they want to die, let them, it's that simple

 

Yup, let Darwin fix the issue.

[DualSportBiker]

I know a guy here who was in a serious accident back home in Germany years ago. He was not wearing a seatbelt. The accident investigators told him that had he been wearing his belt, he would have died.

 

Now he refuses to wear one and his family follows his lead. This is known as 'argument from personal experience' and goes along with all the other frameworks psychologist have given names like argument from authority, from incredulity and from ignorance. Taking a single incident and extrapolating it to general use is foolish. The number of people saved by not wearing one is a fraction of those saved by wearing one.

 

The statistics on seatbelt usage are clear. Odd exceptions must be seen as such. People who don't wear seatbelts are as likely to injure other passengers as they are themselves. 

[GammaGlobulin]

Ralph Nader will be turning in his grave,....

If he reads this Topic.

 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Motorists are being urged to stop using seatbelt buckle inserts after a shocking incident highlighted the deadly consequences of bypassing basic safety measures. The alarming practice of inserting a fake buckle to disable the seatbelt warning system has been linked to many injuries and fatalities on Thai roads.

Free choice, but knowing Thai roads and drivers this is the last place I'd want to override something that could well save your life

[PETERTHEEATER]

8 hours ago, hotsun said:

Didnt know these were a thing. Surely everyone must realize that all cars have seatbelts for a reason, right?

 

so instead of just using their seatbelt, thais would rather spend money on something just so that they dont have to use their seatbelt?

You better believe it.

 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

If they want to die, let them, it's that simple

 

Yup, let Darwin fix the issue.

 

I don't think it is that simple.... 

 

The reason...  Imagine some idiot on their phone down a small soi at 20kmh, drifting across the centre line and having ahead on with your Wife...   Your wife is fine, seatbelt and air-bags, but the other driver was not wearing a seatbelt...  40kmh closing speed and their head smashes into the windscreen killing them....

 

... Your Wife is 'automatically' charged with 'causing death through reckless driving' because a death was involved (this is a standard charge and is usually quickly dropped in such circumstances)....

 

... then the family of the deceased are coming after you and your family for compensation because their bread-winner died... 

 

... the wife has to live with the fact that she was in an accident where another party died, and if shes a particularly compassionate individual, that will definitely impact her.

 

Extreme scenario I know - but this is just another step down that ladder of not wearing motorcycle helmets - its not a completely victim free....

[lordgrinz]

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I don't think it is that simple.... 

 

The reason...  Imagine some idiot on their phone down a small soi at 20kmh, drifting across the centre line and having ahead on with your Wife...   Your wife is fine, seatbelt and air-bags, but the other driver was not wearing a seatbelt...  40kmh closing speed and their head smashes into the windscreen killing them....

 

... Your Wife is 'automatically' charged with 'causing death through reckless driving' because a death was involved (this is a standard charge and is usually quickly dropped in such circumstances)....

 

... then the family of the deceased are coming after you and your family for compensation because their bread-winner died... 

 

... the wife has to live with the fact that she was in an accident where another party died, and if shes a particularly compassionate individual, that will definitely impact her.

 

Extreme scenario I know - but this is just another step down that ladder of not wearing motorcycle helmets - its not a completely victim free....

 

I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened to us already, many close calls, but knock on wood, we haven't had anyone succeed in using us to commit suicide, yet. If it were up to me I would leave Thailand right now and never return, sadly it isn't up to me, that's marriage for ya 😉 

[Dirk Z]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

These are wonderful devices. I only use them around town. Never on the highway, which would be asking for trouble. 

Eludes me why you would not wear them in town. No trouble there? Are seat belts such a nuisance?

[newbee2022]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Motorists are being urged to stop using seatbelt buckle inserts after a shocking incident highlighted the deadly consequences of bypassing basic safety measures. The alarming practice of inserting a fake buckle to disable the seatbelt warning system has been linked to many injuries and fatalities on Thai roads.

 

The warning gained attention after a social media post by Facebook user Pongprom Yamarat, who shared images of a serious crash involving a brand-new Honda CR-V. The driver suffered severe lower-body injuries, and blood from head injuries, was visible on the airbag. 

 

 

The post pointed out a disturbing detail, a seatbelt buckle insert had been used, meaning the driver was unrestrained at the time of impact.

 

Pongprom emphasised the dangers of this practice, stating:

 

• Many Thai drivers use these inserts to silence the seatbelt alarm, unknowingly putting their own lives at risk.

 

• More than 70% of road fatalities in occur in crashes, where the vehicle structure remains intact, meaning seatbelt use could have saved lives

.

• Airbags alone are not sufficient protection; they must work in conjunction with seatbelts to prevent fatal injuries.

 

• A previous incident saw a young woman die after her car hit a roadside barrier. Despite minor damage to the vehicle, the impact crushed her chest because she was not wearing a seatbelt.

The post has sparked renewed calls for authorities to ban the sale of seatbelt buckle inserts, which are widely available and online. While safety advocates have been urging action for years, the government has yet to implement stricter regulations.

 

As road fatalities continue to be a major concern in Thailand, experts stress that using a seatbelt is a simple yet life-saving measure. Motorists are reminded that deceiving a vehicle’s safety system might trick the car, but it cannot cheat death.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

 

I didn't even know that this kind of tool exists.

But, hey, we're in Thailand🤣

[ravip]

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

At first I thought they were warning me about the seatbelt extender I use for my child's car seat, but after reading this, I'm blown away by the level of stupidity the people in Thailand will go through to make things unsafe.

 

36 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I didn't even know that this kind of tool exists.

But, hey, we're in Thailand🤣

Just for yours info - these are not limited to Thailand. Its available on Amazon - safety certified too - for whatever its worth.

Good material for Thai bashing, but seems there are other countries that has this stuff.

Sometimes, good to Google a bit without exposing... whatever!

 

[Captain Flack]

A post about the picture from Khoasod has been removed.

[Liverpool Lou]

9 hours ago, hotsun said:

so instead of just using their seatbelt, thais would rather spend money on something just so that they dont have to use their seatbelt?

Yes, but It is not restricted to just Thais.

[newbee2022]

11 minutes ago, ravip said:

 

Just for yours info - these are not limited to Thailand. Its available on Amazon - safety certified too - for whatever its worth.

Good material for Thai bashing, but seems there are other countries that has this stuff.

Sometimes, good to Google a bit without exposing... whatever!

 

Thanks, new to me.🤗

[Liverpool Lou]

9 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Yeah they are a thing.

Seat belt chimes are annoying.

But they're there to remind occupants to travel safely and legally.

[Liverpool Lou]

8 hours ago, Artisi said:

Darwin in action. 

You can't fix stupid. 

Gawd.   You're right Artisi, stupid cannot be fixed.

[ravip]

9 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Yeah they are a thing.

Seat belt chimes are annoying.

Not only the seat belt chimes - ALL the alarms on the dashboard are annoying. Especially the Oil and the Temperature gauges.

[Liverpool Lou]

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

These are wonderful devices. I only use them around town. Never on the highway, which would be asking for trouble. 

Yeah, no one's ever been injured in "around town" accidents.

[Yolando]

7 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

How did we survive pre seat belt buzzers, before car seats for kids? 

A lot of people didn't survive. 

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, NE1 said:

I disabled mine in my Ford because it is annoying.

But I still use my seat belt when leaving our village

Putting the seat belt on disables the chime much more effectively.

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

How did we survive pre seat belt buzzers, before car seats for kids? 

By not having accidents, that's how.  Nothing to do with warning sounds.

[Ralf001]

9 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

 travel safely and legally.

yeah nah... where is the fun in that ?

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

stupid is as stupid does 

That one never gets old, does it?

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

yeah nah... where is the fun in that ?

 

Plus most Thais don't believe in travelling safely or legally.