Here is a controversial topic? Seatbelts?

Question

I use seatbelts every time I drive, not only because I have become acclimated to putting it on, but also is the law.

Do you not think that by making seat belts mandatory that it is an infringement of our civil rights?

Whether or not you buckle your self into a seat because the government says you have to do this or else, seems like an invasion of personal rights.

For instance, whether or not you had a seat belt on, is certainly not going to guarantee whether or not you make your destination without hitting a pedestrian for example. Or what if a cow jumps in front of you for some unknown reason, and let's assume that you not only kill the cow but kill your car as well. Of course, it would be ideal for you to have a seat belt on for this situation. But again, would it not be a personal choice, after all, you are only one in the vehicle. Having the seat belt on may or may not make a difference as far as you've been injured, but the cow will still be just as dead. .

I want to make it clear, I DO use my seatbelts, and am not protesting the reasoning of wearing them. I simply wondered how many felt it is overstepping the boundries when the the gov't in its infinite wisdom thought it should be mandated.

I really intended just to get opinions, not to condemn or support either way.

Got to admit, people, at one time, I resented the fact they made it a law, but I have since changed my mind.

Answer 1

No, it is not. The states have a great deal of time and money put into the roads as part of the overall transportation system, and have found through studies that seat belt use significantly reduces injuries in a crash, so they do have a vested interest in keep the motoring public safe. As a result, federal law mandates that seat belts will be installed in all vehicles built beyond a certain date, and the states for the most part have put ordinances on the books requiring their use, and making it a moving violation if they are not in use.

Keeping in mind that time is money, let's look at the same crash with and without seat belts in use.

2 lane road, good road conditions, but the driver drops off the edge and over corrects, causing a roll over accident. He has his wife as a passenger, and one child in the back seat. The vehicle winds up back on its wheels after rolling.

One police car, everyone is okay, just a little shook up. One wrecker who tows the damaged vehicle away while the family gets a ride to the local emergency room to be checkout out. Total time road blocked, 15 minutes. Vehicle moved off the road to allow traffic to flow early on.

Without seat belts. Child, unrestrained, has gone through the windshield, wife has hit the windshield also, and has life threatening injuries. Husband has hit the wheel and has, at the least, a broken arm. More than one cop, one ambulance, the coroner, the funeral home. The full investigation takes time since there was a death. Road blocked time, hours. Vehicle cannot be moved until the investigation is finished.

Answer 2

The use of a seatbelt is not to protect the cow, but you.

Don't you want to survive a potentially fatal crash?

The invasion of my personal civil rights can go right out the window if I'm laying in a hospital bed on life support, in pain beyond measure, wth my family suffering the thought that I might not make it.

There are other, more important issues to civil rights than seatbelts.

Answer 3

A poor choice of a point of view...

Look at it from the effects on third parties if you do not.

1) Someone has to pick up your pieces.
2) Someone has to settle your estate if you die or wipe your waste if you live.
3) Someone has to go fix your car or tow it away.
4) Someone else has to clean off all that blood and stuff

and now lets talk about what happened to whatever you HIT when a large chunk of you went thru that windshield and hit the other car...

getting the point... ?

What you do affects OTHERS in this world and in your life. Part of growing up is to accept that responsibility and act with that respect and consideration.

Seatbelts are a simple and common sense solution to a problem that needs solving. Don't stand on a soapbox at the cost of others.

With that said.. go buckle up and have a Merry Christmas.

Answer 4

it is crazy to make it a law for the front passengers and adults to wear seatbelts, but backseat riders should wear them, because in a wreck they would likely be thrown forward and smash into the front passengers. If you're only hurting yourself, then government has no business telling you what to do.But this whole auto idea is a privilege anyway and they have the right to set whatever rules they see fit.and there are plenty of people who died in car wrecks wearing a seatbelt, and anyway, anyone riding a motorcycle is a thousand times more at risk of dying than anyone riding a car unbuckled. that's a fact.

Answer 5

i own a repair shop,and i think its a good law,and as far as wearing seat belts,,its a way to save life,and as far as being given a choice to wear them i think its good idea they made it a law,,most people don't actually know if they would ,or would not save there life,,but its like putting a loaded gun to your head and pulling the trigger,,the gun might fire,and it might not,,its not a chance i want to take with my life,i have seen people get killed who had them on,,but i have also seen people walk away from accidents that a mouse couldn't have survived in also,,so like you said its a question that can be answered both ways,,as to where it should be a choice,,i don't think so,,im kind of glad it is a law,,it makes me buckle up every time now,and i used to not do it,,but now i think about how much i would be loosing out on if i wasn't able to walk and enjoy some of life's greatest things,,im just one opinion though,,but my out look a on life has changed a lot lately,,good luck i hope this help,s.,,have a good x-mas.

Answer 6

Law makers are not trying to save your life by mandating the use of seat belts There are two reasons:

1. If you are not insured, and are injured, you will probably end up in a County hospital, draining taxpayer resources. The boys in office can't stand that. They want to keep that money.

2. Citations issued to scofflaws help replace the funds lost to:
(see #1)

Answer 7

It's a political issue.
I live in a state where it is illegal to drive a car without a seatbelt, but it's perfectly fine to drive a motorcycle without a helmet.

Why?
Because the auto safety lobby was able to pass a seatbelt law, but the motorcycle lobby was able to kill the helmet laws.

Answer 8

I wear my seatbelt, because you can replace a car but not your life (even with life insurance, you can only get it when your dead). I have 2 accidents, that's why I am telling it right now.

Answer 9

Legalizing marijuana, no longer in straightforward terms medicinally, yet letting the government take over for the druglords with the help of promoting their very own stuff and taxing the crap out of it. Marijuana is the rustic's maximum rewarding crop and that's no longer even legal.. think of of the tax revenues to be produced from it if it have been. it would particular help out in those tumultuous economic circumstances.

Answer 10

seatbelts are there for your safety and if you use them it's up to you, even though they say they are manditory you still have the choice if you are going to buckle up or not or risk a fine, it's the same thing now with cigarettes, if you smoke they make you feel like a criminal if you smoke in public, theres no end to it, when they get their way on one thing then they will pick on something else, pretty soon they will be picking on alcohol to outlaw it in public, it's sickening!