I don't mind wearing a seat by law or otherwise. I also believe in helmet laws for cycles---the health care system is stressed enough without millions of dollars being paid out as a result of head injuries sustained by non helmet types (when their OWN insurance runs out). The health care system is already overextended by pouring money into illegals who have NO insurance. Pete
Careful what you wish for!! For all those who support this law in the name of saving tax dollars and/or protecting us from ourselves, beware the slippery slope! Using the same logic, the government could and should outlaw cigs and alcohol alltogether, cell phones in cars, eating in cars, drinking (anything) in cars, driving with one hand, talking to a passenger while driving, changing radio stations, driving cars without airbags, and last but not least, looking at a beautiful woman walking down the street. While they are at it, maybe it should be against the law for a woman to walk down a busy street. Our government, local, state and federal, was created for a specific and limited purpose. It was not created to be a nanny to the ignorant masses like me who choose not to wear a belt. Our lawmakers seem to have forgotten this , or maybe they never learned it at all.
Actually, the health care system is strained because large numbers of people are old enough to enter it. Although they survived not even having seat belts for nearly half their lives (imagine that), many of their health problems could have been avoided or reduced had they been fined for drinking, smoking, eating too much or too little of anything, eating foods that are cooked too much (charred), and a host of other non-vehicle related lifestyle choices. Also, many of their health issues are related to just having lived a certain amount of time. The Baby Boomers have reached the age where they can tax the health care system. I have nothing against that, but if we want to complain about taxing the system, we have to keep in mind that a whole generation had what is now considered poor health habits... actually, the new generations do as well, but they've not entered the "system" yet. Is this about money or lifestyle choices in a free society? If it's about health care money, perhaps I should invest in Soylent Green.
I always wear my seatbelt, but the government has no more right to make people wear it than they do to demand you quit smoking, or lose weight. It should be your choice if you are an adult.
Im against mandatory seatbelt laws. I have been a passenger in 2 accidents where if I had been wearing a seatbelt I wouldnt have survived. But my basic complaint is this. Within the last 5 years the state of PA has. 1.) Repealed Cycle helmet laws. 2.) Instituted mandatory automobile seat belt laws. WTF??????? If Im speeding and a motorcycle is speeding, and we collide. The late bike owners family gets a speeding ticket in the midst of planning his closed casket funeral. While Im sitting in the ER waiting room, trying to figure out where Im going to find a clean new front bumper for my Buick, Im going to get a speeding ticket and a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt? o No: I have a problem with that. Dan
The state I live in was the first in THE WORLD to make it compulsory, so I grew up not knowing any different. When I visited the States a couple of years ago, my mate's girlfriend looked at me all wierd like when, in the backseat, I put the belt on. "You don't have to wear it here, silly!" Feel really uncomfortable without it. Couldn't get used to seeing bikers without helmets, or dudes in the back of pick-ups either. Guy at a party last night, from Greece, said when it was made copulsory there, you could buy t-shirts with a black sash printed on it from shoulder, diagonally down to the waist! Looks like a belt from a cop's perspective.
Bottom line is,it's all about the money. The insurance industry lobbied for the seatbelt laws and won again. They know many people won't buckle up. The insurance companies WANT you to get tickets so they can raise your premiums. Look at how the speeding ticket game works. Another cash register operation. The municipalities and the insurance companies benefit big time when you are on the recieving end of a traffic citation. The majority of accidents happen due to inattention.Not excessive speed,though a higher speed will result in a more devastating accident. And non-use of a seatbelt will increase the risk of injury. To me,someone going 80mph and paying attention is safer than a driver going 45 not paying attention. I wear a seatbelt everytime I drive.You never know when that inattentive driver is going to get you. I wear it,not because it's the law,but it is the safest thing to do.
Here in NY, it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving. You are suppose to pull to the side of the road to use your cell. I see way more people talking on thier phone than people not wearing their seat belts.o No: Dan:3gears:
I remember seeing those t-shirts with the diagonal black stipes on them. I can't remember if they were white or yellow (maybe were available in other colors), but the stripe stood right out on them. Back then they couldn't just pull you over for a seat belt. They had to get you for something else, then add the seat belt ticket in to. Now they can pull you over for anything. I was pulled over 1 time for looking like a guy yhey were looking for. The vehicle description was way off, but the officer thought my face looked similar to some other guy they were looking for. Has was suprised when he asked to see me tattoos (the other guy had several on his arm). I promtly showed him that I have none. He left me alone after that. Dan:3gears:
Here in Mass cops get paid more money to right a ticket then a warning. So guess what... Cops dont give warnings anymore. But there's no quota's. ou:
I guess I never noticed wearing a seatbelt. had to start doing it when I joined the military- we have to wear seatbelts & helmets (motorcycle riders) plus a bunch of other stuff- all the time, no matter what, no matter where. I don't have the statistics, but deaths from accidents have decreased steadily. The safety measures have to be the reason. I don't know if I will 'take my chances' if I live somewhere where it isn't mandatory, and I'm no longer in the military, but I don't think anyone should be told what to do if their actions don't hurt or interfere with anyone else. Maybe in the beginning it wasn't about money, it was about saving lives. The undesirable side-effect is the money generated from the ticket.. o No:
It's strange how this poll has changed over the last couple of years. When I first posted it way back then, I was pissed because I had encountered an officer who was very outspoken about what he would do to me if I didn't wear my belt. I told him it was my right to not wear it but he would have no part of that. So, I was suprised days later after seeing the overwhelming majority on here posted that we needed the seat belt law. That even got me to thinking about it more. But, now the gap is closing. Less than 10% points separate the poll now. Wonder if the no-law side will catch up in another year?
Well they nailed me for a $25.00 seatbelt violation today. ou: I guess they need to pay off that Big Dig fiasco somehow. :error:
TN law pulled my dad over last fall when we were going to work. They finally gave him a warning, but in the beginning the cop stated the seat belt penalty was a $165 fine for him! That's crazy.
Wait till you are in a high speed roll over or hard frontal impact and you will appreciate the few bruises the belts leave . After going to many wreck sites with a wrecker and seeing many ejected bodies and body parts scattered about the scene you will grow to appreciate seat belts and harnesses .
saw this thread and this story i stumbled upon a few days ago popped into my head. http://www.odmp.org/officer/15433-trooper-randall-wade-vetter "Trooper Vetter had stopped a 72-year-old driver for not wearing a seatbelt. While he was sitting in his patrol car, the suspect exited his vehicle and opened fire with a rifle. The trooper was struck in the head. Trooper Vetter was able to return fire but did not hit the suspect. The suspect then used the patrol car's radio to say he shot the officer and then attempted to flee the scene. An off duty officer who was passing by, witnessed the shooting and alerted other officers. The suspect was then taken into custody after a brief standoff on the roadway. The suspect was known to local officers for claiming he would shoot any officer who tried to write him a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. The suspect was convicted of murder. Trooper Vetter had been with the Texas Department of Public Safety for six years, and is survived by his wife and eight-month-old son." kinda puts things into perspective of whats important in life. vetters dash camera video is on the net. its pretty hard to watch.
Seatbelt laws are different from helmet laws. A seatbelt can keep you from getting thrown from behind the wheel. If you are behind the wheel, you could still be able to control the car.
