I recently had a discussion with a neighbor of mine(a die hard Motorcyclist(no offense to anyone)that his not wearing a helmet was his right and that no one should tell him he has to wear one,yet the use of seatbelts should stay a mandatory law. Ok thats his opinion now heres mine. I feel that if the law is going to allow Motorcyclist to have the option of not wearing a helmet then why should'nt i have the option to wear a seatbelt in my opinion it should be my decision weather i wear a seatbelt or not. I am in no way saying that i do not wear seatbelts i do it's the law,i am however interested in other opinions so what do you think?




Wiz

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When I rode my Bike,I knew I always wanted to protect the melon,Simple Concept!

When it comes to seatbelts ,I'm all in favour of a seatbelt Law On The HIGHWAY.I prefer to NOT wear my seatbelt in the city in case I get T-boned or from the rear.I'm still suffering from the last rear end collison where someone hit ME.
But,since I drive looking Two Blocks ahead,One block behind,& a block right & left, I feel I don't even need worry about that either.

I Definitely WILL ALWAYS wear a seatbelt on the highway though.


[font color=red]Dennis

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I think you ought to have the decision for the helmet or seatbelt. I also believe you ought to pay more for insurance if you don't wear seat belts or a helmet rather than pushing off your medical expense risk onto those of us who see value in being around for our children and loved ones. Yeah, I'll catch flatch for it but I believe anyone with non-adult children who doesn't wear a seat belt or helmet is irresponsible. Just as I believe anyone who drives a car with unbuckled children ought to face jail time for child endangerment.

 

How would you enforce the insurance end of it? I mean I could lie just as easily as do what ever it is I say. I feel that seatbelts should be optional. If you are 25 and under (the higher crash risk aga) you should be required to wear one. I am 20 so I am "youth" that would support that law. Heck, I am in favor of raising the driving age from 16 to 18. When I was 16 that was stupid sounding yes. But I got in 2 wrecks before I was 18. 1-rollover and one slide off (icy road but still no excuse). That is my opinion. But over 25 seatbelts should be optional.

 

I'm a big believer in personal responsibilty. I ride a motorcycle, and have over $1,000,000 medical insurance (Combined health and auto). I have always worn a helmet. However, I don't support helmet laws. I just don't like being told what to do.

Seatbelts, on the other hand, I am of two minds. Once again, I always wear mine. It has saved my life twice already. If you are by yourself, I feel you should be able to go seatbelt-less. If you have a passenger or two, you should wear it. Nothing like turning your body into a 230lb missile in the event of a crash. Back in Nevada, we had an accident involving a Bronco full of cheerleaders. The driver was the only the onle one wearing a seat belt, and the only fatality. Everyone else (4 others) survived. The was a big uproar in the papers about the dangers of seatbelts. A week later, it was determined that she (110lb girl) had been crushed by her passenger (200+lb male) during the roll-over.

Personal freedom requires social responibilty.
Mike C.

 

The majority of injuries happen without seatbelts. Injuries cost lots of money. Therefore, they raise the cost of premiums. Just as younger drivers pay for the higher cost to insure them, so should other demographic groups. I believe they should be optional, but again, with the added insurance cost.

You can't fool your insurer either. Its VERY easy to spot seatbelt usage by looking at both the clamp and the latch, plus the spool. Also, during an accident, the force creates signs on the spool and latch. IMHO, if you don't wear a seat belt and you told your insurance company you do then you should get stuck with the medical bill. Why should I, a person who wears them, has my children wear them and anyone who gets in my vehicles wear them, bear the cost for those who don't?

 

There's always going to be a feud between people who wear seatbelts and people who don't. I always wear one, my dad never does. He is a firefighter and was there when someone burned to death because the seatbelt was stuck. I swear by a seatbelt but others don't. It's just your opinion really. The law helps to put more people in seatbelts because if they know they can get a ticket they are less likely to forget to put it on. I put mine on naturally, it just goes on when I get in the car I don't think about it. I don't even notice that i wear one, so it being uncomfortable isn't an excuse. That's how I see it atleast.


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I believe in using all the reasonable safety equipment available.
I have always worn my seatbelt. It's a habit. I fasten it before I back out of the garage, parking space, etc.

I support the seat belt law. Fundamentally, I don't like any laws concerning my personal conduct. If responsibility were enforceable, then I would favor eliminating the law. But innocent people suffer from arbitrary decisions by others. Children are most vulnerable.
I accept the law and penalty for not wearing seat belts. But I believe that if it's going to be a law, there should be no way you can not fasten your seat belt except deliberately. There should be a reminder of some type that is either always on, or comes on every few seconds to remind you, until you push an "ok I know but I don't want to do it" button. I hate to hear of people being punished because they forget. Deliberate neglect is another issue.

As far as the helmet law, there are conflicting data on their usefullness. I have heard that statistically, your head is much less likely to get crushed if you wear a helmet, but... your neck is much more likely to be broken with a helmet on, because it grabs the pavement so well. So the choice is up to the rider, whether he prefers a crushed cabbage or dislocated one. (It's probably obvious that I don't have a motorcycle.)


I think more injuries/deaths could be eliminated by a vigorous program of ticketing people who fail to yield the right-of-way, fail to signal turns, fail to stop fully at stop signs, tailgate too closely. Then there would be less need for seat belt laws and too-low speed limits.



Winford:-)

 

I'm here because I was wearing a helmet.

I had a bad crash when I was a teenager, broke both arms, have pins in my left leg. I was wearing a full face helmet, and as I skidded across the pavement, the entire front of the helmet melted and ground away. I even suffered road rash on the face. I dont have to wonder what would have happened if I didnt have that protection.

I think it should be your choice, but I know what my choice would be if I were ever to ride again (which I do not.)

Drew.

 

I like to think I am a resonable person so I view seatbelts and helmets as an issue of choice. The use thereof being the intelligent choice. However, I disagree with the legal mandate. Those who choose not to protect themselves cause higher insurance rates for those that do protect themselves. I am with whomever said, those who choose not to protect themselves, should pay for the medical bills they incur, themselves. People will always cite exceptions in any argument. I would think that the statistics are on the side for the use of seatbelts and helmets. However, I am weary of the government legislating intelligence and morality. Let those that make the choice be responsible for the actions resulting from that decision.
In the case of minors that can't make an informed decision, once again, I would leave the responsibity with the legal guardian. No government mandates. Parents and legal guardians make these choices everyday and this is just another one that requires careful and informed thought. Something, by the way, which does not usually eminate from the government. The government permeates our daily lives to the extent that I resent being ordered to do, or not to do, something that only affects my personal welfare. I live with my decisions, and the consequences of the actions that result from them, and so I expect other to do the same.
Brien

 

I totally agree with Ken's posts. I will add that I sometimes don't buckle up to go to the gas station, which is a few blocks through residential side streets. I would never go on main road without a belt and started wearing belts before it was mandated. My boss took me to task for not wearing my belt in the side streets, "You have small children, that's irresponsible, blah blah," but I said, right, and I often ride my bicycle through this neighborhood with no seat belt and could be hit by a car." To me the risk is about the same in both cases. Oh, by the way, I nearly always wear my bicycle helmet, even for slow trips with the kids (never hurts to be protected and you have to set the right example for the kids).

By sheer force of numbers, more lives would be saved if auto occupants all wore helmets along with belts, than are saved by motorcyclists wearing helmets.

What about climbing an extension ladder over your concrete driveway. Slap that old bicycle helmet on and it could save your head at least.

 

The proper way to do things would be for the insurance company to give you a massive rate reduction for using seatbelts. The rates are currently set for 100% non-compliance. This is just another ploy by the insurance companies to milk us for more money.
The insurance companies pay nothing if you die. They claim seatbelts save lives, which would mean that more people survive a crash with serious injuries that normally would have died. In that case, seat belt use should make your premiums go up.
I am for seatbelt use for minors, because they don't have the intelligence to decide for theirselves, but I think an adult should be given a choice. You are supposed to be intelligent enough to choose who is going to run the country, the NRA says you are intelligent enough to own a gun, but you are not smart enough to decide if you should wear a seatbelt? Maybe they should take voting and gun ownership priveleges away if you don't wear a seatbelt?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-Jul-02 AT 12:14 PM (EST)]The way I always had it described to me when I worked as an EMT was this:

When the driver of a vehicle wears a seatbelt, it not only protects them but helps keep them behind the wheel and in control of the car during emergency maneuvers. Therefore, if a driver neglects to wear his belt he isn't just endangering himself...but is also risking others on the road and the other occupants of his own car. This makes sense, and my own driving (and racing) experience backs this up - most car/truck seats do not provide enough support for quick maneuvers (especially bench seats), so the seatbelt helps keep you where you're supposed to be.

As far as the passengers of a car, that's a tougher issue - I suppose their own body could potentially injure others within the car during an accident, but in my opinion it isn't as important as having the driver wear a seatbelt.

On the helmet issue - as far as I'm concerned it is entirely up to the person wearing it, because it isn't going to help keep you in control or affect anyone else (other than their own families, of course). However, people who don't wear them should be grouped differently for insurance purposes.

I understand the reason for requiring seatbelts in cars because it affects more than just the person wearing it, especially where the driver is concerned...but I don't agree with requiring helmets because it only affects the person wearing it. I guess in that respect I agree with your neighbor - I feel that seatbelts should be mandatory (at least for the driver), and helmets should not.

I've seen people burn to death that were trapped by a belt - but I've seen far more people killed who probably would have survived had they been wearing one. For those who are afraid of getting trapped in their vehicle, they make special cutters just for seatbelts which you could always hook to the visor or someplace else handy in case of an emergency. Personally, I always wear a seatbelt...unless I'm just driving around my own property hauling hay, or something like that.

LK

 

Excellent point LK! The seatbelt is not just a personal issue because loss of control due to lack of a seatbelt can injure others. This may change my thinking, because if this is a significant factor, then the state may have a responsitility in mandating universal seat belt usage to protect other's right to safe driving conditions.

More food for thought: If we privatized the roads, would the companies running the roads require seat belt usage?

 

I am a firm believer in seat belts and helmets and freedom of choice.

I have always worn seatbelts since they first came out. It was a habit that became ingrained when I was little. I even feel unconfortable not wearing them. So I do believe adults have a responsibility to make sure their kids wear belts until they are on their own. (Funny story later). I have been in two probably fatal accidents where I was saved from any significant injury because I had the belts on. Seat belts help you to stay in your seat so you can control your car when driving for fun and also when you have a crash. I know I would be dead from one accident where I was hit from behind. I was conscious but my vision blacked out. My seat was bent backwards so that I was almost reclining. If I didn't have the belts on I probably would not have been in the seat and would not have been able to steer my car away from the divider when my vision came back.

I also used to ride motorcycles and minibikes, I don't think riding motorcycles is very bright either but I do love it. After a few crashes with my mini bike where people aksed me if I was dead, I decided to get a helmet. I have had plenty of wrecks on bicycles where I am lucky my head didn't get damaged worse than it has been. I hate to imagine what would happen if I had the same type wreck on a motorcycle without a helmet. I have been lucky that I never crashed on my cycle, but I know if I ever do, it could be a doosy. So I always wear my helmet even if it is hot and I don't split lanes. I even wear a helmet with my bicycle, because I don't like the feeling when my head bounces off the ground. I am a real sweat hog but I will continue to wear my helmet.

But, I am also a firm believer that when we are adults, we are responsible for our own choice and should have the freedom to make our own choices. If you want to go without a seat belt or helmet so you have the "freedom" of the road, fine. But I would want to make sure that you do not place a burden on society if you have an accident and are maimed or killed because you did not take precautions. So the hiked insurance sounds like an idea. Also be sure to fill out your donor card so you can help out someone else if the worst should happen to you. I fill mine out and hope I never get my ticket punched.

Everyone in the US has freedom of choice. I choose to eat BigMacs and am over weight. If I die of heart disease, I should not expect society or McD's to pay for my funeral. Same should be said of helmets and belts. Use them if you have any sense and be willing to pay the dues if you want that extra freedom.

Make your own choices and let us hope they are wise ones.
Jim Henderson

Oh the funny story...
I always yell at my kids to put on their seat belts. But occassionally they don't and we get down the road before I check them and yell again, but we always have them on within less than a mile down the road. I know I probably shouldn't even start rolling until every one is belted, 50 lashes with a wet seat belt.

One day I was heading into town(smallville and less than 3 blocks) with one of my boys and saw the local pd coming my way. When he passed me he suddenly did a U turn and followed me. I figured he was after someone else since I was under the limit and hadn't done anything too terrible that day. I mentioned the cruiser to my kid who immediately stood up and turned around in his seat to look. Yup, the cruiser noticed the kid wasn't wearing the belt and I hadn't had time to do my second yell after leaving the driveway. We got pulled over and the cop asked my son if he ever wore his seat belt. I guess he was flustered and he said "never", groan. Tons of fun tap dancing on that one. Cost me $125 after the judge dropped the fine from $250. I have told the kid that he will get to pay for the next fine.

Sorry for the length, but I do feel belts and helmets are important, but adults should make informed decisions.