Here's why you wear a seat belt with ROPS system
- Thread starter i7win7
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Killingitcountry
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Kubota KX040-4, BX25D, BX2755HD - EXPAND for link to my YouTube Channel :-)
I will admit that I don't wear the seat belt on my BX at all - not something I'm proud of and something I will try to work on. On a completely unrelated note ... I have definitely been in this immersion simulator in Nova Scotia. I worked as a Coast Guard marine engineer for almost 17 years and, at that time, we did all our marine emergency training at this facility (Survival Systems). So cool to see it again - thanks for sharing!
I've never driven my tractor on main street in the Orient! That example would not apply to any place I use my tractor!
I do have a 40 HP trencher. Has flotation tires that measure 6'-0" out to out. Pretty stable. Extremely difficult to flip while digging. Also difficult to rotate around to see how it's going. By all accounts here I'm fortunate to be breathing air because I have never attached the seat belt clip on that machine in 30 years.
MNVikingsGuy
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LX3310, FEL, 60" bucket, 60" grapple, 60" box blade, 60" flail, LX2980 blower,
MNVikingsGuy
Active member
Equipment
LX3310, FEL, 60" bucket, 60" grapple, 60" box blade, 60" flail, LX2980 blower,
I use my Kubota mowing very steep slopes commercially - graded capped landfills, reservoir dams, etc. I've used both open and cab tractors, and often thought about the pros and cons of wearing a seat belt. The *only* con I can see is if the tractor rolls into water. When I mow the top of a reservoir dam, there is very short, steep drop into anywhere from 30-80 feet of water. Just being able to "get out" of the cabbed tractor would be difficult. I'm extremely careful along water's edge. Otherwise, I wear my seat belt on any slopes. Working on flat ground, I do not.
Life is full of risk opportunities, and an enjoyable life is one where the individual gets to choose. I live in NH where seat belts in road vehicles are not required, but I frequently travel into Vermont where they are. I once was stopped for a seat belt violation, and the officer gave me a lecture on safety instead of the $100 fine. I politely waited for him to finish, then asked him if I had chosen to ride my Harley for this trip instead, would it have been OK to not wear a seat belt?
Life is full of risk opportunities, and an enjoyable life is one where the individual gets to choose. I live in NH where seat belts in road vehicles are not required, but I frequently travel into Vermont where they are. I once was stopped for a seat belt violation, and the officer gave me a lecture on safety instead of the $100 fine. I politely waited for him to finish, then asked him if I had chosen to ride my Harley for this trip instead, would it have been OK to not wear a seat belt?
I've noticed the drivers on Ice Road Truckers do not wear their seat belts when crossing the frozen lakes. One guy had his door open and a screwdriver in his left hand. He WAS prepared!
je1279
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Lifetime Member
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LX2610 w/ 60" MMM, LP 72" Snow Plow, EA Wicked 55" Grapple, and Woods 60" BB
You've got to be a certain kind of crazy to do that job. The money is definitely good, but not worth the risk for me.
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If you go into water, the key is remaining calm and knowing that while you are in imminent danger, there is a procedure that needs to be completed in order to save your life. You need to wait for the (cab) tractor to come to a rest first. Hopefully minimal water will enter the cab during the descent, allowing normal breathing. Take a couple of seconds if possible to get your bearings and orientation, than take a deep breath and hold it and immediately open the side windows, pop the back hatch, whatever you can do to flood the interior asap. Do this in a calm manner expending as little energy as possible. Once the compartment is flooded, open the door and head to the surface. Obviously there are many things that can go wrong in this scenario which can kill you, but this is the correct procedure for survival.
Ah, you must be one of those people who don't own a "real" tractor, lol.
I was watching the guy who was pulling doubles, each loaded with 14,000 gallons of diesel crossing the lake and the rear set of axles fell through. The part of the truck that was above is all that kept the truck from going down.
They explained how the ice gets soft spots. The ice is between 28-35" deep. Yep, not for me!
Was riding my snowmobile across a lake last weekend, and hit a soft spot where slush about 10" deep formed between the top layer and an ice layer below. Definitely wakes you up!
It was an interesting operation. They brought in another truck and off loaded the rear trailer of the fuel. Then had a tow truck with a crane pick up the rear out of the ice and have the driver pull up. Then they marked off that area to keep others out, but the had ice augers to drill holes to allow the ice to "heal" itself.
In reading this thread I'm actually shocked at the number of folks that don't wear seatbelts and think that's a 'stupid idea' to wear them. Further, to say that do not save lives.. data/science deniers I guess?
The water argument @NHSleddog ... really... I'd much rather 'struggle' a little (push a button) to get my seatbelt off than wait to inhale water because I'm trapped (arm/leg/whole body) under the tractor/ROPS.
Those against seatbelts may want to read the data, watch some roll over videos with/without seatbelts. If that still doesn't change your minds just cut all your PTO covers off as well... after all only a Darwin candidate would get caught in a spinning PTO.
I generally agree with your sentiments but I take exception to the term "science denier", mainly because it is too often used to dismiss people with differing opinions without engaging in discussion. I have been called that on several occasions, typically by people who know far less about the subject in question than I do.
BigG
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l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Not a single truck driver has been killed crossing the ice. It is more drama then real life. All the rules for Hours of service still apply.
Just like the "Shipping Wars" show. Drama not real life.
I understand and agree with that--probably should have left it as data denier. However, when 99% of folks in a seatbelt with ROPS are uninjured and 130 folks die from rollovers a YEAR (129 lives saved by the SEATBELT) and folks still want to argue that it makes no difference I think its appropriate to use.
Kind of like 'flat earth' folks. We have photos from space, satellites send signals from above while they are in orbit.. clearly science/data deniers. Sometimes its appropriate, maybe even necessary, to use as there is no other explanation for their point of view.