what do you think about a state seat belt law?

Question

people in regular vehicles (car. truck, etc.) are required to wear seatbelts, however state police and others do not have to wear them. the one think that i am conserned about is that i have to wear my seatbelt and receive a 50-100 dollar fine if caught without it, yet our children travel to and from scool every day mon-fri and busses are not required to have nor are they equiped with seatbelts to protect our childen. what do you think about it.

Answer 1

Well for starters, I think the seat belt law is a uneeded law anyway. It's just another example of the goverment determining what they think is best and raking in revenue for those who do not comply. Yes, I think seat belts are a good idea in cars and trucks. Yes, I have always worn mine and asked passengers to do the same. No, I didn't need a law to reach that decision on my own.

As far as a school bus, the issue isn't as simple at all. Consider the following...

Neither lap nor lap-and-shoulder belts on a bus provide the same type of protection offered in a car. During a head-on collision, the most common type for belts, lap belts, increase the risk of injury. On impact, this type of restraint allows a passenger's head to jerk forward, risking severe head and neck injury. Lap and shoulder belts would require the installation of stiffer seats. These seats could become a source of impact injury. Studies also showed that children slip downwards when restrained by lap and shoulder belts, risking injury to vulnerable internal organs.

In 1999, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the effect of seat belt installation in buses. They came to the conclusion that seat belts actually would result in head injuries and fatalities. In fact, the NTSB found a relationship between most injuries/deaths and the seating position of the passenger. In these cases, the presence of seat belts would change nothing.

While there is no evidence proving that seat belts on buses save lives, there is reason to worry they may cause harm. During an emergency, seat belts could hinder young children from quickly exiting the bus; they simply could not free themselves. Drivers would be hard pressed to monitor belt usage for every student. And the heavy buckles could be used as weapons.

Studies by federal agencies, including the NTSB, have shown bus construction provides greater safety than seat belts ever could. Comparing the design of a school bus to a car is like comparing apples to oranges. Where belts protect passengers during car collisions, their presence may cause severe injuries on a bus. Seatbelts are only required on small buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds because their design more closely resembles a car. It is ironic, but the reality is that seat belts have no place on a school bus.

Answer 2

In my State were I live the buses do carry seltbelts school buses and regular public transporation buses. And the Police in my area do wear seatbelts. I don't drive but when I'm in a car with someone, sometimes I wear the seatbelt and sometimes I don't. It kinda all depends if there is a huge police presents around, you know when ya driving down the street and everywhere you look or turn on to there is another COP. Then I put on the seatbelt. After all I am breaking the Law. But I feel it should be my choice to wear or not to wear. They say it saves lives but there have been cases were people had died in a car accident,and that they would of survive if the seatbelt they were wearing didn't get jammed. But anyway it's the law in my State. (MA) USA.

Answer 3

I think that is a good law...and yes Police do wear seat belts..My BF is a police officer and never once have I not seen him without his seat belt on....but they are human too, and some might forget from time to time...and what I have read on the deal with busses is that is why the seat in front of you is close and its so tall so that you will hit it...but I don't know if it turns...but don't cry about a flippin seatbelt it will probably save your life....and its the law...if you don't like go to the supreme court...but until then you wouldn't steal something because you don't feel like paying for it would you....some would but they are stupid...same as those who dont buckle up

Answer 4

Simple research shows that school bus travel is, on a child/mile basis, far safer than auto travel. School busses are built with safety in mind, and the seats are designed to cushion the children, those same children who could possibly be stuck in that bus if belted in and the bus goes into a water-filled ditch. Who is going to unbelt and get 40 kids off the bus quickly, especially if the driver is injured? As far as seat belts in cars go, people who don't wear them are misguided fools. The percentage of people who would be killed because of seat belts is infinitessimal compared to the percentage saved by them. Some people with severe injuries or death from seat belts would have been a lot better off if they were wearing the belts properly. People tuck the shoulder belt under the arm, people don't cinch the belt properly so they end up thrown into the belt at 70 mph, and, worst of all, the lap belt ends up on the stomach instead of across the pelvis, because people think it is more comfortable, which guarantees internal organ damage.

Answer 5

Most state police do have to wear them.

As for school bus
1 allot have belts now
2. they have high padded seats
3 are so large if something hits them there are very few injuries
4. If had seat belts because of size if rolled would be a long way to drop to get out. (But yes they wouldn't be flopping around.

When I was in school we were hit head on by a 25 ton dump truck and rolled on side. There were just the basic cuts and bruises. If that were a car those seat belt won't help when car was flat.

Answer 6

While I wear a seat belt, I do not think it is the place of a government to tell an adult to do so. Safety is important, but there are risks in everyday life. People should be able to choose the amount of risk they are willing to take.

People fall down stairs every day, should we require anyone on a staircase to wear padding and a helmet? Speed increases the damage and injuries in a collision, should we set the speed limit to 5 mph? There is a chance you can get an electrical shock when you plug in a light, should we require that you have OSHA approved gloves?

Tell the government nannies to go away, and let adults make their own choices!!!

Answer 7

There are times when a police officer needs to be free to jump from a vehicle to save someone, prevent a crime or catch a suspect, and police officers need that discretion, but if that is not the case, they should wear them.

If seat belts are that safe, I believe busses should require them.

High school busses should have restraints that keep the arms, legs and mouths of the teenagers restrained until the driver releases them. Come to think of it, so should cars and vans.

Answer 8

My Mom and Dad swerved to miss a dear and ran off the road. My Dad had never worn a seat belt, my Mom Always did. My Dad walked away fine, the seat belt crushed my Moms internal organs where the seat belt was and she bled to death internally. I would take the ticket to court and fight it. I have proof they kill. No way am I going to die over a small fine. Weight is evenly distributed when you are not wearing one, when you are you are cut in half. If you are going fast enough to fly through the windshield, a seat belt is not going to help. It simply makes it easier to clean up the body when it is confined to a car. Cops don't want people to see the body or blood. A seat belt causes a quicker death because it takes care of all the major organs.

Answer 9

Well as far as the cops are concerned, they can get away with anything they want-that's a given. I think there should be seat belts in busses. What irritates the heck outta me is the fact that they will fine you for not wearing a seat belt in a car but here in PA, motorcyclists don't have to wear a helmet-how f'n stupid is that?!? I have no problem with motorcyclists not wearing helmets-it's their choice, but if they have a choice, car drivers should too.

Answer 10

I am thinking along your lines. I worry about my kids on the bus. However, and here we go again with more statistics-reporting,
it is estimated that "only" 11 children die each year in school bus crashes. So, the federal government does not wish to spend $800 million dollars on safety belts for buses when so few kids die on buses each year. I don't like those odds---I think 1 dead child is too many.