Do You Think The GOVERNMENT Should Require You To Wear A Seatbelt?

by minimus 44 Replies latest jw friends

  • LongHairGal
    LongHairGal

    I would like to say no but because I am aware that we live in a society where many people are irresponsible and reckless, the answer would have to be yes. Unfortunately, laws are enacted because of people's lawless nature.

    For one thing, having a seatbelt on at least keeps somebody in the driver's seat near the steering wheel where they have half a chance to keep the car in control. I am not saying it is foolproof but it is something. Also, people who refuse to wear a seatbelt might be a little careless about strapping their kids in, etc. and so it goes.

    LHG

  • zagor
    zagor

    Are you kidding me? I understand you guys being ticked off because of proposed gun control but seatbelts?!? Come on where is your civic duty? When you grab that steering wheel you are no longer by yourself and everything you do on that road can affect people around you. Seatbelt in not there to make you comfortable but to save your ass should anything happen. It should be your second nature to click that damn thing as soon as you sit in the car.

  • Abaddon
    Abaddon

    It depends on the country's health system.

    In countries with publically funded health care available free at the point of access, wearing seabelts can save a lot of medical costs, allowing public funds to be spent better elsewhere.

    Thus it is reasonable to make it law to wear seatbelts (or motorcycle helmets). Althouugh by not wearing a seatbelt they don't increase the chance of direct harm to others, they indirectly take resources from others who need it.

    In countries where there is no real public health system and people typically pay for their own medical costs, the government has no incentive to protect the people who don't wear seatbelts, as their poor choice doesn't cost the government anything.

    Unlike DUI, not wearing a seatbelt will not cause direct harm, nor will it cause indirect harm as the injured non-seatbelt wearer will be paying for their own costs (or their insurance company will).

    I do think any civilised country should fine people up the wazoo for not having safely secured childen in vehicles; their parents might value the liberty of not wearhing a seatbelt more than their face, but it's not fair they make that choice for a child.

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    I think any time the government requires certain safety measures out of people, they end up costing us freedom. Personally I always wear a seat belt since it is the smart thing to do, not because of some law. The same for helmets on motorcycles: if someone is dumb enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet and gets into a wreck, I am not the victim of that decision. That also goes for bicycle helmets and lights: I wear one voluntarily and I will not stop with the legal minimum for lights. My lights are rated at a whole mile visibility, despite the law of 500 feet front/300 feet rear.

    There should be a stipulation. If someone does not wear a seat belt and gets into an accident, and is more seriously hurt because of not wearing one, the government should definitely NOT pick up the tab for that person. That would encourage people to make smart decisions withour forcing them. You have the freedom to ride a bike at night without lights, but you could pay a heavy price. Meanwhile, if someone else has excellent lights (that is, ones that greatly exceed the law), they are less likely to run into problems.

    Besides, these laws do not replace careful driving. I would rather ride a car or a motorcycle without the seat belt or helmet, and not get into an accident, than have the damn helmet or seat belt on and have an accident. People in cars should drive carefully so they don't have accidents (they should look for bicycles and motorcycles, too). Then, there would be fewer accidents to survive. One thing I highly recommend:

    DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

  • tijkmo
    tijkmo
    Althouugh by not wearing a seatbelt they don't increase the chance of direct harm to others,

    not entirely true.

    an ad campaign in uk shows a driver being injured by a backseat non-seatbelt-wearing passenger

    i think it should be required and enforced ...just like not phoning or smoking while driving (future requirement for uk drivers!)

    lets face it we probably wouldn't decide to do these things for ourselves so someone should nake the decision.

    it won't stop it happening...people will still drive without a seatbelt - 'just-because-they-have-a-right-to-idiots' and people will still phone, smoke, eat, drink, shave, kiss, change cd etc etc while driving but it will cut down the amount of accidents either because drivers will recognize a responsibility or they will be afraid of losing their license.

    a motor car is the most potentially dangerous peice of machinery most people will use..they would not be allowed to operate something less dangerous without some kind of safety measures being enforced

  • minimus
    minimus

    I bet you think changing a radio station should be banned to, tijkmo, while driving a car.

  • kls*
    kls*

    Well for me being a Firstresponder and seeing what not wearing a seatbelt or helmet looks like and what it can do to a body makes me say yes . I for one ,as many others feel that the Goverment should not control our every move but people just don't get it , belts and helmets really do save lives and i see all the time .

  • Pubsinger
    Pubsinger
    I understand that they make children be in a car seat. I do not think it should be the law to wear a seat belt. I believe laws should only be made to protect the freedom of others. Like stealing is wrong because it hurts another person. If I do not wear my seat belt, it is not hurting another person. It is the law in Mississippi that you must wear your seat belt.

    That's not strictly true. In the UK front and REAR seat belts have to be worn. A non-belted passenger can kill the person sitting in front of them although they may survive

  • minimus
    minimus

    I believe helmets and belts save lives too. I just don't want government making laws telling citizens what they can or can't do in this matter. I think smoking is horrible but if a person wants to smoke (even in their car, by themselves), I think that should be their business. I believe it's illegal in one town to do so.....(Give me a break!)

  • Pubsinger
    Pubsinger

    ooops

    just noticed Tij already said that

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