Seatbelt Laws

[the_std]

This thread on CS got me to thinking. What do you all think of seatbelt laws? Are they a lifesaver, or do they cause more harm than they prevent? Are they freedom-inhibiting or worthwhile legislature?

[Greenday]

Why you wouldn't wear a seatbelt, I don't know. They greatly increase the odds of surviving a car crash. Now, having laws that force people to wear them, I don't know about. I mean, the laws help prevent the anguish felt by families of the people who die because they don't wear seatbelts and save the EMTs a lot of trouble.

[BroomJockey]

Now, having laws that force people to wear them, I don't know about.

Reduces the severity of injuries in an accident, and thus lowers strain on medical resources. It's a resource-saving maneuver.

[Slytovhand]

Government's role is to do things to improve the quality - and duration- of life. In that vein, I'd say it falls within their boundaries to place such a law... no different than any other traffic legislation.

[Nyoibo]

I don;t see what the big deal is, it's not exactly hard to put a damn seatbelt on, in every state in Australia it's illegal not to wear a seatbelt when in a moving vehicle, it doesn't cause any problems.

And I'll tell you what, if I'm at a scene of an accident I'm going to help the guy who wore the seatbelt before the one who didn't, if they don't care about their life why should I?

[Flyndaran]

It has never been the difficulty of wearing a seatbelt. It's whether it's right for the government to step in and dictate personal actions that don't affect anyone else.
Yes it's saves lives. So would making alcohol, tobacco, etc. illegal. But few people want that.

[BroomJockey]

It has never been the difficulty of wearing a seatbelt. It's whether it's right for the government to step in and dictate personal actions that don't affect anyone else.

Except that society already gave the government the ability to say who can drive (licenced drivers), when (after 16 years of age), and how (under a certain speed, in a non-intoxicated state of mind). They also dictate safety features and minimum standards for vehicles. That fairly clearly states that driving is considered a public activity, far different from what you put in to your body. After all, if you're in your car, and decide to go clambering about because you're unbelted, say if you're stopped at a red light, and want something from the back seat, and the light changes green and you're not going, you're a hazard. A seat belt keeps you from doing that.

You can't stop people doing every stupid thing while driving, but as long as you're in charge of a +1000 lbs rolling death machine, I'll take any chance to minimize the danger.

[BlaqueKatt]

personal actions that don't affect anyone else.

Um if you decide to not wear a seatbelt and get thrown from your vehicle into mine or into the path of mine how does your choice not affect me?

Or you hit me get thrown from the vehicle, and require medical treatment for visible life-threatening injuries, while I slowly bleed out from internal injuries(ruptured spleen, liver laceration) because the EMT's are busy stabilizing you for transport-again this doesn't affect me in what manner?

[powerboy]

I can tell you from personal experience, that wearing a seatbelt, helps to save lives. I got into two accidents. One when I was younger and a car drove a red light and hit my side of the parents pick-up. Another time, I was driving my pick-up(which I loved btw) on the freeway and the steering locked up. I flipped three times and only came out of it with a little sore. If I was not wearing seatbelt both times, I would be dead right now.

[Flyndaran]

...Or you hit me get thrown from the vehicle, and require medical treatment for visible life-threatening injuries, while I slowly bleed out from internal injuries(ruptured spleen, liver laceration) because the EMT's are busy stabilizing you for transport-again this doesn't affect me in what manner?

Getting thrown from a vehicle is almost a myth. It's far too rare to really consider it.

[BroomJockey]

Getting thrown from a vehicle is almost a myth.

Err, quick google search shows me it's happened in my province a few times this year.

[blas87]

It happens quite often, actually.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Happened to a guy on the road my folks live on and they actually saw it happen.

Amazingly, the guy wasn't hurt badly. Evidently, he somehow was ejected from the open side window. Narrowly avoided being run over by the other car in the accident.

Freak accident, I guess.

[Nyoibo]

It has never been the difficulty of wearing a seatbelt. It's whether it's right for the government to step in and dictate personal actions that don't affect anyone else.
Yes it's saves lives. So would making alcohol, tobacco, etc. illegal. But few people want that.

It affects other people, if they're injured taxpayers flip the bill to some extent, insurance premiums go up due to the number and severity of accidents.

Medical thing is different in the US, forgot, my bad.

Getting thrown from a vehicle is almost a myth. It's far too rare to really consider it.

I can think of 3 accidents in the past couple of months where one or more people have been thrown from the vehicle.

Ok, one guy left his leg behind in the car, but the rest of him was out.

[LeChatNoir]

If you don't want to wear a seat belt, that's your choice, but my opinion of your intelligence is going to drop a few degrees. I also think that anyone who doesn't wear a seat belt deserves whatever they get, be it a ticket or a fatal accident. Seat belts save lives. To not wear one because you're lazy, or you think seat belts are "not cool"...it just blows my mind.

My dad never wears a seat belt. He says it's "too much trouble" and will go so far as to even "cheat" the seat belt alarm that goes off in his car. Either by hooking the seat belt and sitting in front of it, or just depressing the latch button when the alarm goes off. Which I don't get, because he could just wear the seat belt in the first place. He is also one of those who thinks that because he drives a big truck, he will come out ahead in a car accident.

Anyway, yes, I think seat belt laws are necessary and justified. They are in place to save lives. If you want to drive a car, you have to follow the rules. Those rules also protect others in the car, i.e. parents who are required to seat belt their children.