The reason I ask this question is because a former colleague of mine was in a terrible car accident last Friday. She was wearing her seatbelt but had the shoulder strap pushed behind her back instead of over her shoulder. When the car rolled the part of the seatbelt that went around her waste cut into her midsection and cut her stomach open, spilling her internal organs outside of her body. The shoulder strap would have helped prevent this. She is in a medically induced coma fighting for her life. The last I heard she was in critical but stable condition but very grave. Please wear your seatbelts properly. It could save your life.

I'm very sorry to hear about your colleague.

And thank you. Yes, wearing seatbelts properly helps to save lives.

But what about cars that only have a lap belt? I drive one of those sometimes. Esh, that's a scary thing to think about.

How tragic.

I hate when people do that -- it might keep you from being ejected, but it won't keep you from bad whiplash or slamming into the steering wheel or airbag. My mom does this sometimes, it makes me so mad. I never heard of anything like this happening, but now I can tell her another consequence of doing this.

Every once in a while--not often--if the shoulder strap is digging into my neck or something, I'll tuck it under my armpit, but never behind my back.

When I was in middle school, my cousin got into an accident where her car flipped over. Thanks to her seat belt, she was left hanging upside down, and the emergency crew was able to cut her out of the car and get her out with just a few bumps and bruises. Without it, she would have crumpled right onto her head and most likely died.

Side Note: If people find the seatbelt straps uncomfortable (which could be a reason why some people do this), there are seatbelt adjusters available out there.

My friend is short and that's probably why she pushed the shoulder strap behind. I have the same trouble with the belt rubbing my neck but I usually keep pushing away from my neck. I'll never put it behind my back and won't let anyone in my car do so.

Yup! that happens to me too. I'm short, and the seatbelt digs into my neck instead of falling nicely across my chest the way it does for taller people. I have done it in the past, but not usually when I'm one behind the wheel. After that story, I will probably never do it again! (And for god's sake, can't they make seatbelts more adjustable? I'm 5'2, I'm not THAT short!)

I'd say the only good thing about my hubby's crappy ford is that you can adjust the seatbelt hight about 4 inches up or down.

That's scary, from now on my kids are NOT going to wear the strap behind their back, I'm going to find adjusters this weekend.

I'm short too and have found that an adjuster works great. It prevents the strap from digging into my neck (which bugs me to no end!) and makes me not even notice that I'm wearing a seatbelt.

I do admit, though, that there are times when the seatbelt drives me nuts - like when I'm driving to the entrance of my neighborhood to drop off a kid at the bus stop. If I don't snap the seatbelt it just dings and dings and dings. I've taken to locking it then getting in the car. Only do this in the 'hood though!