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Updated: 10:50 PM Jun 30, 2009
Wear your seat belt or get pulled over
DOT says change will save dozens of lives every year; some drivers aren't too happy about the law Posted: 5:10 PM Jun 30, 2009Reporter: Mary Rinzel Email Address: mary.rinzel@weau.com |
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Some interesting facts from a James Madison University study: * About 60% of deaths in car crashes are people not wearing a belt * Only 1% of people ejected from the vehicle WERE wearing a seat belt * 75% of people ejected from the vehicle die * You are 25X more likely to die or be seriously injured when ejected from the vehicle * Medical costs average 50% more for unrestrained accident victims (85% of which are paid for by society) * 25% of injuries are caused by an unrestrained person being thrown into other passengers in the car * 97% of people who were NOT injured in a crash wore a belt; only 3% of the uninjured people were not wearing a belt * Your chance of being involved in a car accident this year is 1 in 5. That's 20% of Americans who believe "this will never happen to me." Nobody PLANS to have an accident. It's actually a big part of the definition of the word. It doesn't matter if you don't care if you hurt yourself. Get over yourself and think of others.
Free men have Rights. Slaves have privileges.
I don't mind the law, the interlock idea not so cool. If you are hooking up a trailer that could be a real pain.
Thanks CodyZ, you nailed it. I know insurance companies base their rates on driving records, so if they would start bumping premiums 10% for each seat belt offense, that might convince these knotheads to use them. Back in 1973-74, all new cars came with something called a 'seat belt - starter interlock' system. It prevented a car from starting if the belts weren't buckled first. Maybe that feature should be brought back in today's cars.
You jokers. The government wiretaps Americans and breaks the Geneva Convention, but when they threaten a slap on the wrist for not wearing your seat belt you smell the fascist nanny-state coming on. Motorcyclists should have to wear helmets; but one bad law is not justification for critiquing a good one. The point is this: when people don't wear their belts, costs of crashes go up. People sustain more injuries. In turn insurance premiums increase and EVERYONE pays more. That's why it's not just "personal choice." No one should have to pay more for insurance because the belt chafes on your precious shoulder.
These comment forums are great but if you really have a problem with this law (which is a total infringement on your personal rights) CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN!!! They work for us and in turn need to answer to us. Call Ron Kind 831-9214 and tell him how you feel. Or go to his website and email him(http://www.kind.house.gov/index.html) WE need to let these leaders know that we're not taking it anymore and they're going to start listening to us.
Okay, so for all you people who tout "personal choice" think about this. What about those people you leave behind? What are they going to think about your choice? How about the person you potentially crash into? They are going to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives for killing you, it won't matter that you chose to exercise your right to NOT wear your seat belt. Please people, BUCKLE UP!!!
To Anon; starting in 2010, all new buses will be required to have seat belts
We can thank Jim Doyle for this one! I for one will not be wearing my seat belt, and will continue to pay the $10.00 fines. To me it makes no sense how while riding my motorcycle I can be driving down the road at 65mph with a tank of gas between my legs, wearing nothing but shorts and a pair of sunglasses -- but when I jump into my car I better buckle up, or else! What a joke! Come and "cite" me Mike, my $10 is waiting, but while your out see if you can find some real criminals, K' :)
I did not need a law to make me wear a seat belt. Ever since January 25th, 1976 ... when I got out of the hospital after a low speed head-on crash on an icy road ... I have worn my seat belt. I learned the value of being restrained in the driver seat. I learned the very first time that eating the windshield, busting my ribs, knees, ankles and feet is NOT something I would like to experience again.
It's to bad they cannot put more effort towards tougher laws against sexual crimes, murder and drugs as they did into the seatbelt law!
Number 1, I carry a legal document on my person in case of an accident, that states NO medical treatment, unless it is a certainty my injuries are not life threatening/life changing. NO resucitation, no life extending treatments or medications. All is outlined. This whole ploy is not about our safety, it's about the money they can raise by making this LAW, in order to get their hands on the BIG money from the Feds. This law was just plain STUPID! Go after the alcohol offenders! Thats where money is being made by offenders,and why they wont touch that, no matter how many innocent lives are taken. For Mike, dont worry you wont be picking me up for speeding,I do obey the majority of laws.
Paying a $10.00 fine is a small price to pay for FREEDOM OF CHOICE. When I choose not to wear my seat belt I only POTENTIALLY hurt myself, and when I woke up this morning it was still a FREE COUNTRY! Wake up america whats next?
Personally; I have been in 47 different states, driving upto 15000 mi. a mo., wrecked two cars.(walked away from both)survived rush hour traffic in all the major cities in this great country of ours more times than I can count...I have NEVER worn a seatbelt!!!!! Furthermore: my cousin would not be alive if he HAD been wearing his seatbelt! If he'd been stapped in, the tree would have impaled him instead of pushing him across the cab and busting his hip..there as many people whos life was saved by not wearing a belt as with wearing it. SO I am old enough to drive, I'm old enough to make up my own mind on this subject....Just cuz you think it is a good idea don't mean I do!!! YES! I tried driving with a belt on.. It is way to restricting..... I don't drive sitting on the steering wheel which means I can't reach any controls on the dash w/o removing it, so I prefer not to!!!! Also; I still drive cuz its fun. Not just a way to get somewhere, so I don't need to talk to someone constantl.
To set the record straight you do not have a right to drive it is a privilege that the state extends to you and requires to you be licensed to do. Certain rules must be followed for the safety of everyone else on the road. This law has been around since 1987 it is nothing new. New is the fact that the police can pull you over for the seatbelt alone. But I am sure that Mike from the post below could have found a myriad of reasons to pull you over so he could cite you for the seat belt. The disturbing part of this is the last sentence where it would appear that the Federal Govt has once again blackmailed the state to pass a law by withholding funds. That needs to stop, the Federal Govt should not be exerting that kind of power. Check the constitution out sometime.