Governmental Involvement of Seat Belt Usage

[Superfly]

The US Constitution says the following in Section 8:

 

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

 

 

I would like to concentrate on the bolded sections. Welfare means "the heath, happiness, fortunes of a person or group" - the health of an individual. Now, I interpret that the health of the individual means safety of the individual. So, not only should the government be allowed to make people wear their seat belts, but it's their duty to make them.

[antiaircraft]

@Marianne: Yes, parents are responsible for the safety of their children, and any considerate parent should buckle them up, and also educate them as to why you need to wear a seat belt. However, we need to consider those parents who have a good reason not to. How many cops do you think will actually bother if the person not wearing a seat belt has an injury of some sort that makes it excruciatingly painful? It may be different in other countries, but where I live, the answer is next to none.

[m3l3ana]

I am not 100% sure where NZ stands on that one AA, I have no idea what the law is for people who cannot wear their seatbelts for medical reasons, I am guessing they would have to get a note signed from a doctor stating why and then take it to the police and see what happens, I am also guessing that they would have to take it with them whenever they drive, just like their license. But that is fine! I have no issue with the fact that some people cannot wear their safetybelts due to medical reasons etc. But there are always ways around it. I think that people like that should get seatbelts custom made for them and that should either be subdivised by the Government (since it is the law).

 

@Superfly. That is really interesting, I am glad that you pointed that out. I have no idea again if NZ has anything like that. I guess I really should do some research!

[Roadripper1995]

DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! WEAR UR SEATBELT!!!!!

 

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[Dae Lærke]

To begin, I'm from New Jersey, which means we are bombarded with "Click it or Ticket" slogans every few miles down major roads, and normally in such a way I cannot see past it to see cars coming around the local circle (oh New Jersey, how your roads make no sense). I also always make sure everyone in my car has their seat belt on prior to leaving, even though all of the people who are normally in my car would be the one to suffer the fine, not me.

 

I don't think the government should dictate whether or not people should wear their seat belts, however. Reasons have already been listed above (and in all sincerity, I think the people in my own car are more at risk by the fifty pound bag of cards, and four to five hardcover core rule books in my backseat than whether or not they buckle their seatbelt. Any of those to the head, and I can safely say you're probably no longer living.) At the same time, I also think the driver deserves some say in the matter. With me, if you get in my car, you put on your seatbelt. If you don't, you can get out and walk.

 

On another level, I agree with there being a law that children should always have a seatbelt on (or, if young enough, be in a car-seat.) For some unknown reason, many parents seem to need that extra push in the right direction to care enough to make sure their child is buckled up. Growing up, I can't tell you the number of parents who would let me and my friends ride seatbelt-less. Or even without a seat, sprawled out in the back of their van.

 

For the most part, the local cops don't really enforce the law unless you're pulled over for another offense, though, and you make it obvious you're not wearing one (or they happen to be in front of the aforementioned "Click It or Ticket" signs.) It differs in the next town over, but they don't have a real crime rate the way my own city does. -laugh-

[Xepha]

Just a random thought: If you don't want to buckle up just take the bus and even better, stand up in the bus. You will probably be shaken enough to appreciate the next time you sit in a car and wear a safety belt.

 

This debate is more about where does the individual freedom end than about the question that was originaly asked.

[Ashley Rose]

This is a tough one. If you are in my car I won't leave until you are buckled in...if that means we have to sit in the parking lot for an hour and argue about it well then that's what is going to happen. I know many of you said that the studies show it's safe, but it's really case by case. I rolled a car and was saved by my seat belt...however my cousin was killed by his. Now I'm not saying they are not safe, that's not my point at all. They are safer than not having a seat belt in most cases, my cousin just happens to be one of the rare cases that it was deadly to wear his.

 

I say the law is fine, it's not the worst law we have and it's not that difficult to follow. If we had a choice, I think it should still be a law that children have to have a seat belt. They are a lot more fragile than any adult, and I don't think anyone has a right to risk a child's life.

 

V: Good point! Riding the bus scares me a bit because of that reason! And so I will continue to drive my car with my seat belt.

[antiaircraft]

Whether or not you should wear your seat belt isn't really the point of this argument though. I already mentioned earlier that scientifically speaking, wearing your seat belt is a good idea, and I'm sure everybody agrees. However, enforcing this through the law requires adequate consideration for those who have a good reason not to.

[ShadoWolf800]

You should always wear your seatbelts! It may save your life (More than the chance that it will kill you)

 

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