Most myths are benign, even fun.But other myths can kill people.For children, the story of Santa Claus is won-

derful. If their eyes light up because Santa will come to put presents under the tree as a reward for good behavior, let those children have their childhood and God bless them, every one.

But if an adult believes the same myth, he would fi nd nothing under the tree and other adults would think him strange, at best.

Santa provides an example of a myth that is all right for children and even adults to believe – as such belief would cause no real harm.

But other myths are deadly, includ-ing those that involve using safety restraints while driving.

Having been at the scenes of two ejection wrecks in two weeks, I called the National Safety Council in Itasca, Ill., and talked with Vice Pres-ident John Ulczycki. He told me why some people do not use safety restraints. He focused on three general classes of people – the reckless, the anti-government rebels and the passive, the latter being people who match the behavior of friends or family.

I can think of three other reasons for not wearing belts. First, there are occasions when I simply forget to wear mine. Though rare for me, I understand that anyone can forget.

While at the Rotary luncheon Tuesday, I heard another reason for not wearing a belt. A woman said she does not wear her belt in town – just fi gures nothing bad will happen in Warrensburg. I thought back to the accident at North Maguire Street and Russell Avenue that killed Tracy A. McCain, 47. Seat belts did not arise as an issue in that case, but the crash makes the case that a deadly or serious accident can occur in and outside of city limits.

The third reason is the belt may not work. In

one old car I had, the buckle would not close. I have not had that happen in 20 years.

Taking all of the reasons together, the one Ulczycki provided and my own, no reason for failing to wear a belt is good. I would rather pay the price to fi x a broken belt than risk a broken

spine.There are still other reasons,

called myths, people do not wear seat belts. To separate myth from fact, these ideas come from the Na-tional Safety Council...

Myth: Being thrown from a car beats being inside in a wreck.

Fact: A person is about 25 times more likely to be injured fatally if ejected versus being buckled in. Ejection can result in landing on unforgiving pavement, in hitting other lethal roadside objects, scraping along the ground or being crushed by one’s own or another vehicle.

Myth: Belts are not needed on short drives.Fact: Eighty percent of serious and fatal

injuries occur in cars traveling under 40 mph. Fatalities involving non-belted occupants have been recorded at as low as 12 mph. Con-

versely, there were no fatalities to belted occupants in a 28,000-vehicle study with speeds up to 60 mph.

Myth: Seat belts trap people in burning or submerged vehicles.Fact: Less than half of 1 percent of all injury-producing col-

lisions involve fire or submersion. But even then a safety belt can save a life. Unrestrained occupants can be slammed into a dashboard or windshield and knocked unconscious, and an unrestrained occupant rendered unconscious could block exit paths of other occupants.

Myth: A person without a seat belt can brace himself well enough to avoid serious injury.

Fact: At 30 mph, a collision would throw occupants forward with a force equal to 30 times their body weight. Also, one out of four serious in-vehicle injuries are caused by occupants being thrown against each other.

Ulczycki, as we talked, said the people who most need to hear seat belt advice will ignore it. I suggested that maybe, if they are lucky, their mothers might hear and tell them the facts.

Facts hard to hear for some people

The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal welcomes let-ters to the editor from our readers.

The writer’s name, address and telephone number must be given in the letter, though only the name and city of origination will be published.

Letters will be edited for taste, length, punctuation, clarity and in accordance with newspaper style. The writer's intent will not be changed.

Endorsements and criticisms will be scrutinized for fairness to all involved.

All letters become Star-Journal property and will not be returned.

E-mail letters are preferred and should be sent to jmiles@npgco.com. Written letters may be addressed to: Daily Star-Journal, Jack Miles, Editor, 135 E. Market St., P.O. Box 68, Warrensburg, Mo, 64093.

Compiled by Stella Harris

April 27, 1967• Columbus – Frank Jacoby’s tulip bed has

more than 300 plants in bloom at one time.• Chilhowee – Over 70 friends and members

of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star Chap-ter honored L. R. “Deacon” Crumbaugh Fri-day with a potluck dinner for his 60th year as a Masonic Lodge member.

• Key Discount Store, 203 N. Holden: Gleem toothpaste reg. 79¢, 53¢; Bactine fi rst aid spray reg. $1.49, $1.09; Bayer aspirin 300 tabs $1.65, reg. $2.19.

April 27, 1977• Mrs. Caroleen Phipps was installed as

president of the Ridge View PTA last night. The annual Art Fair was under the direction of Morris Collins, and art projects undertaken throughout the year were on display.

• The Warrensburg High School girls track team defeated Sedalia yesterday. Ann Bailey was a double winner for the Warrensburg var-sity with wins in the 880 and mile run.

• Safeway: Fresh broccoli 59¢ bunch; cello caulifl ower 59¢ ea.; fresh artichokes 5 for $1; Sunshine saltines 1 lb. box 49¢; Soft-Q bath-room tissue 8 roll pkg. 99¢; Pepsi-Cola 8 16 oz. btls. $1.19.

April 27, 1987• Diehl Tire Center: Heavy duty lawn mower

batteries, 250 amps, $21.95• The Warrensburg High School golf team

placed second Wednesday in Higginsville. Freshman Chad Huffman was medalist with a 41.

• Personal: Imagine me successful at 40! Hap-py birthday! Love, Paula, Brian and Tiffany.

There are reasons for not wearing seat belts, none good, National Safety Coun-cil Vice President John Ulczycki told The Daily Star-Journal.

Based on research, Ulczycki said, there are three types of people who do not wear seat belts habitually:

• Those who do not wear belts for the same reason some people speed or text while driving – they are reckless;

• Rebels do not wear restraints because the government supports doing so, and they do not want to do anything the government suggests; and

• Passive types, who just want to get on the bandwagon, imitating the behavior of friends or family, rather than check the facts and think for themselves.

Ulczycki said members of each of the three groups will get along fine without wearing seat belts, the same as everyone who wears a seat belt will do – until the moment when restraints are needed. At that point, those who fail to wear belts may be separated from those who do – literally, in some cases.

A literal separation can occur in cars when one person wears a belt and another does not. Upon impact, the person wearing a belt may be thrown forward a few inches, but will stop before his head strike the dashboard or wind-shield. The person who fails to wear the belt will not be stopped, and in some cases will fly out through the windshield, or out through a damaged door, and land on the highway. As bad as that sounds, and as bad as such damage can be to the ejected person, the person also faces the possibility of the vehicle in which he rode rolling over, or landing on top of, him.

Sadly, for all involved, such incidents are not rare.

No one knows when, and under what condi-tions, they may need to wear seat belts. Under-scoring the point, in the past two weeks, two Johnson County women – while driving in sunshine and on dry roads – got into wrecks neither woman could have predicted.

Neither woman wore a seat belt for reasons known only to themselves.

The wrecks ejected both women and both required hospitalization.

There is no arguing the point, Ulczycki said, that wearing seat belts reduces the number of traffic deaths and life-altering injuries.

But that fact will not get some people – the reckless, the rebels and the passives – to wear safety restraints.

Tragically.For them. Their friends. Their families.

Three types of peopledo not wear seat beltsThree types of people

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BACKWARD GLANCESCompiled by Stella Harris

BACKWARD GLANCES BACKWARD GLANCES

PAGE 4 THE DAILY STAR-JOURNAL, WARRENSBURG, MO., FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012

jackmiles@npgco.com(c) 2012 Star-Journal Publishing Co.

spine.

called myths, people do not wear seat belts. To separate myth from

Jack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack MilesJack Miles

Elliott’s Roller Rink setto close forever Friday

April 27 marks the end of a tradition for many. Elliott’s Roller Rink will open its doors for one last time.

Although the outside doesn’t look like much, the inside was always full of laughter, smiles and music. Here was a place you could spend a few hours for a nominal fee. The drinks and snacks were inexpensive and it was a great place for a birthday party.

I spent many nights there back in the day, as did my daughter from an early age. She wouldn’t let go of the wall for years, but she loved it. Eventually she let go of her fear and the wall. In no time she became a confi dent skater who did a pretty mean limbo. No price can be put on that!

The Elliotts should be commended for their 12 years of operation. This was always more about community service and having a safe place where kids could go, than running a business.

Theirs was a labor of love. It was better than sitting in front of the TV or computer any day and will be sorely missed.

As with all good things, it sure was good while it lasted!

– Sharon Gamblin,Warrensburg

Elliott’s Roller Rink set YOUR LETTERS YOUR LETTERS

Psalm 102:3-4

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

BIBLE VERSESPsalm 102:3-4

BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES BIBLE VERSES

J.C. Ventimiglia