Am I the only one that things seatbelts should be the choice of the people in the car and not that of the law. I've heard it's the law because the government gives states money for highways and whatnot so they have to enforce it. Could be wrong, I have no idea. I could see it being a health and safety thing, but they let people smoke, as If that is healthy or safe. Perhaps someone could shed some light as to why its required by law. And Maybe share if you agree or disagree with the law
Sure, I suppose if you want to be an idiot you can, but what do you gain by not wearing it? Less chance of drowning if you fly into a lake? Even if it were removed as a law, you should really still wear it. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
It's an excuse to take more of our money. That's about it. Not wearing a seatbelt in Belgium will cost you €110.
I think it just comes down to being responsible, they allow you to drive on their roads after you've shown that you are capable of doing so, ergo the drivers license, (you don't need a license to drive on private property) and seat belts are just a part of proper safety standards while operating the vehicle, and same for other things like forklifts etc, they all have their own set of things you need to remember when using them, to hold a license means you are competent in these things, if your not, well then you don't get to keep your license. So I'm fine with it I guess. As for the smoking industry, who knows, just big money and votes I guess, nobody wants to be THAT politician, We are taking steps in Australia though, despite the industries cries.
I wouldn't call it letting me drive. I had to pay for the car, the license, my taxes maintain the roads. If people are competent like they think they are, would they not be capable at making a simple choice all on their own. 50 dollar fine in Maryland Hence the choice part. If I decide I don't want to wear why should I be forced to. That's all I'm saying.
No seatbelts = 47x times more likely to die in a serious accident. I think it should specifically for the reason that it's putting you and others in danger. You can literally become a projectile without one.
I really don't see the big deal about it being a law. Just put on you seatbelt it take literally 2 seconds. The government probably realizes that people are stupid enough to drive without a seatbelt so they made it a law to help save lives. Honestly this thread seems pretty pointless if you ask me.
When I was in driver's ed, an officer came in to tell us a gruesome story about not wearign seatbelts: He had apperntly responded to an accident scene where because someone wasn't wearing their seatbelt they lost control of a vehicle and crashed into some pedestrians and killed half a family. The car had swerved for some reason and it threw the driver out of his seat; and if he had been wearing a seatbelt it might have helped him safely stop the car. While this might be a rare incident, the fact that it can happen at all is cause for concern enough for me. And even if you don't care about other people, it can easily save your own life so there's really no reason not to wear a seatbelt. Also, similar to what berry said; it's not like youre on your own private property - if you wanna drive around dangerous heavy machinery at high speeds in public places, you better be prepared to follow the rules; Especially simples ones like maintaining a minimum safety standard.
I'd actually rather have it be replaced with you lose your license for longer periods of time instead of a fine. If one is that incompetent and either A) Doesn't care, or B) Is one of those people who "relies" on the law/fine to help them make the choice because "I don't wanna pay a ticket" not only put themselves in more danger, but probably everyone else since they're that much of an idiot. Not that I'm implying that wearing a seatbelt = good driver, just that you're probably a poor one if you don't. :derpe:
The government realizes people are to stupid to use a seatbelt but will put nothing in the way of a drunk driver. Sure they have cops and whatnot to pull them over, but that doesn't seem to stop that. And that would be the risk they take by not wearing it. Lets have a little scenario here. If I'm driving without a seatbelt and hit a car, how is the other person in danger. Unless I were to fly out and smash into them. Seem unlikely to happen, but you never know. I've seen videos of carjackers taking a car while a person can't get their seatbelt off. The person gets dragged by the car by the belt. Also if the driver was thrown from his car, was it out the window or door. Cause If it was the door, then it would be a faulty door and not the seatbelt.
they never left the vehicle, they just were tossed into the passenger side of the car. (humans can bounce around inside cars surprisingly easily when not restrained) Even if it was only a danger to the person in the car, I guess I subscribe to the philosophy that seatbelt laws promote a safer overall driving culture without really doing any harm - there are much more serious civil liberties being infringed upon (some even related to cars) to worry about than being forced to click a seatbelt, found in all cars. For instance, i'm a lot more bothered by the idea of random security checkpoints on public roads, or the fact that police don't have to furnish any proof of events other than their word when testifying against people in a court.
Ah. I see, well crushed my argument. I aware that there are far worse things then a seatbelt law. It's just a thought I had. If no one wanted to talk about they could have let fall away. I have no problem with that.
I think I came off a bit too dismissively. (sorry about that :I ) It's a perfectly valid discussion topic and I have my own thoughts on all sorts of way more trivial matters all the time :derpe: I happen to agree with the law, but then again i'm a pretty boring type to follow rules without question a lot.
I see this as one of those things to have so that stupid people aren't allowed to sue anyone or blame someone else when they get hurt... Very similar to how it's almost standard to put "caution:hot" on cups of coffee (when you buy them at like Starbucks or something) I really don't care if its a law I do it anyways... Besides, the people who don't wear them are obviously not the smartest people you could meet... Natural selection and all... But anyways yeah it should be a matter of choice.
Nah, it's all good. Be as dismissive as you like. It will just show me people don't want car related threads. So I'll find other things to post about. Well I never used to wear my seatbelt, about 3 years ago I would guess. This was also after I had a crash involving me and a tree. The only time I wore my seatbelt was when I would offload. I only really wear it now because the cops in my area have become pull over happy, so it's just easier to have it on. Which I guess makes me any idiot, but the people I see driving are far worse then a seatbelt. All the fast and furious RPs on the highway. The wanna be rednecks with lifted trucks and all that stuff. These people seem like a far bigger threat to others then a person that doesn't wear a seat belt. Is a motorcyclist more of a danger to others if he doesn't wear a helmet?
Possibly. The fact that the poor choice was made establishes that the person throws caution into the air and if they do not care about their own wellbeing as much, why bother with others?
Actually you're entirely correct. Well, mostly I suppose, do I care about my well being, not particularly. According to your post at least. I don't see a seatbelt as anyone's concern other then the one making the choice. I don't even see the seatbelt as an indication of a person competence at driving.
One not caring about their own safety driving puts everyone around that person at risk. Not wanting/choosing to wear the seatbelt is indicative of that. I would feel very uneasy driving along side someone else who is not wearing their seatbelt. It's not necessarily just competence, but lack of care that puts the worry into me. Don't really know how else to word it.
I feel a far greater concern over the people that speed through street at 20 over. That is a pretty common thing here. Those people are more of a threat then a person not wearing a seatbelt. Also the people the weave in and out of traffic on the highway or the ones that have to beat that yellow light. Just because someone doesn't wear a seatbelt doesn't mean they going to not care what happens to others. You make it sound like because I don't want to wear one that I would crush a bunch of kids and not care at all. Before I forget, what about drunk drivers. They can put breathalyzers in cars to stop people. Why are they not standard on cars. That could be a great safety thing. A drunk driver kills more people and seems to me to be a bigger threat then a person with no seatbelt.
Well not wearing a seatbelt doesn't make you a better driver does it? Anyhow let's not blow things out of proportions, you just turned things quite silly honestly. Yes there are plenty of bad drivers who wear seatbelts, that's obvious. But we want to decrease overall danger on the road, not add to it and use other ways of driving dangerously as an excuse. You must not care as much by feeling comfortable driving without a life-protecting restraint. Given that fact that making a decision to not wear a seatbelt, you care less about what happens to you. The point is you're more inclined to make dumb moves and get into an accident, which ups the danger for everyone. It's simple when you think about it psychologically. You wouldn't care more for safety unless you cared for yourself in the first place. And yes Breathalyzers would be great to be built into cars. But again, you need to care to use them. Ta.
