One Bad Decision Can Change Lives, Seatbelt Awareness 

I am writing this as I don’t think people totally understand the effects seat belts can have on your life. If it changes one persons opinions then I’ll be happy.

One February a few years ago everything changed for me. I was asleep in bed when I received a phone call telling me my aunt and uncle were in hospital. They are very close to me and I was complete mess. 

They were in a car accident, they were coming home at 12.30am from being out with some friends, coming down a country road slowly may I add due to weather conditions when suddenly they skidded on black ice and lost control of the car. 

The car flipped into a ditch. Luckily my aunt and uncle walked away with a broken rib, some scratches and a lot of bruises, but they were safe and home the next day. 

Their friend in the back seat wasn’t so lucky. My aunt and uncle  were not aware that he was not wearing his seatbelt for the journey, please bear in mind this was someone in their 50’s, when the car flipped he ended up with his head in the water at the top of the car.

As soon as they got him out they took him to surgery to operate on his broken bones. The paramedics and medical staff were unaware that he has inhaled water. He died two days later of secondary drowning. 

This is when everything changed, the house became a constant point filled with solicitors and police officers. News articles were posted with incorrect information, this caused further heartache. They were interviewed at home, at the police station over and over again, they felt like they were in the wrong. 

Not only were my family mourning the loss of a close friend, they were also being accused of causing death by dangerous driving. 

18 months later the final court hearing came, £3.5k in solicitors fees, the risk of losing a very high powered job and a lot of heartache later. The new judge laughed it out of court. It didn’t stop here though. 

My families life has changed forever. My aunt who was driving has constant panic attacks when in the car with other people, she has become constantly anxious about people wearing seatbelts, she is also having counselling and on strong anti depressants. 

It kills me even writing this. I would love the carefree woman I once knew back. But please be aware in the inquest his chances of survival would of doubled if he wore a seatbelt. All this pain over a seatbelt. Is it worth it?