Opinions on seatbelt/helmet laws?

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datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
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I think that seatbelt/helmet laws should exist for those under 18. If you have a child in your car who isn't wearing a seatbelt, you should be fined, and heavily, for child endangerment.

However, once you become an adult it should become your choice.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: Shawn
Doesn't matter to me. I ALWAYS put my seatbelt on as soon as I get it the car.

Me too, I just don't think the government should profit off abusing their authority... "for my protection".

Profit off their authority? BWHAHAHAHAHA!

Call it a tax on stupidity. If you always put your seatlbelt on, how can they profit off of you?

If you want to bitch about the true raping of wages for "protection" lets talk about the bottomless hole known as Social Security. Now that's something that takes money directly out of your pocket every paycheck.

 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
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While I do see why many are upset about seatbelt laws, I do not have a problem with them. Seatbelts save lives, there is no reason not to wear them. Wear the seatbelt and the law will have nothing to do with you. The law can do nothing but save lives, so why not? I am against how they make money off of it, but can anyone think of a better way to coax people into wearing seatbelts? "This is the fifth time I have pulled you over John. This makes us upset. If you do not wear your seatbelt again, we will write you a letter telling you how upset we are"
 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
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Originally posted by: vi_edit

Call it a tax on stupidity. If you always put your seatlbelt on, how can they profit off of you?

If you want to bitch about the true raping of wages for "protection" lets talk about the bottomless hole known as Social Security. Now that's something that takes money directly out of your pocket every paycheck.

I do wear my seatbelt, but that's just one of many ways that they get you and profit. There's the unrealistically low speed limit which was enacted as a fuel-saving measure, and once municipalities became addicted to the revenue it was suddenly "for your protection". There's also the tax hikes which are enacted without any public input, there's now the eminent domain for private use, just in case you bought some desirable property that someone else with political power wants, there's welfare which pays for people to breed out of control and get paid for it, and your aforementioned social security.

I can't wait for the next revolution.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
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laws that were created to protect people from their own stupidity, and yet stupidity will still reign for some and they won't abide.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: IBuyUFO

It should be my choice not to pay the increase in insurance premium because of people like you who don't buckle up and then die.

Think before you speak. If they're dead, they're not costing you anything. If they survive and need treatment, then they cost you money.

To be fair, relatives still sue.

But isn't that in civil court and not through the auto insurance?

Nope, the suit goes against the insurance as well as other assets.

I find it ridiculous that people can't think this through... seatbelts save our society a significant amount of money. Why don't the anti-seatbelt morons take up a campaign to have the government drop safety standards for automobiles. After all, it should be the individual's right to purchase whatever vehicle they want to drive. If it's a death-trap on wheels, so what? It'd probably be cheaper to manufacture; they could use thinner metal and less reinforcing. Let the free market dictate how safe vehicles are, not some nanny laws. (/sarcasm)
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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After all, it should be the individual's right to purchase whatever vehicle they want to drive. If it's a death-trap on wheels, so what? It'd probably be cheaper to manufacture; they could use thinner metal and less reinforcing. Let the free market dictate how safe vehicles are, not some nanny laws. (/sarcasm)

Isn't that called a motorcycle?
 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
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Originally posted by: DrPizza
After all, it should be the individual's right to purchase whatever vehicle they want to drive. If it's a death-trap on wheels, so what? It'd probably be cheaper to manufacture; they could use thinner metal and less reinforcing. Let the free market dictate how safe vehicles are, not some nanny laws. (/sarcasm)

They do. They're called "motorcycles".

 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
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Originally posted by: Alprazolam
Seatbelt Law= Complete BS. End of Story.

Seatbelt has saved my life at *least* twice. I don't really call that B.S.

Nate
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
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Originally posted by: Alprazolam
Seatbelt Law= Complete BS. End of Story.

You are an idiot. I was at a serious accident today on the way home from work. Someone blew a red light at mechum in schaumburg (45 mph limit, I didn't see the accident so I can't estimate speed) and slammed into a car crossing on the green. The cars were really messed up. Pieces everywhere, and the one that blew the light was about 4' shorter than it should have been. The other one was about 90' off the road in the grass, also in pieces.

The 2 women who were driving the cars had a few scratches and some light burns from the airbags, but were otherwize ok. By the time I got to the intersection (20-30 seconds after it happened) they were both out of their cars and on their way over to the grassy area and sat down.

The seatbelts and airbags saved their lives, or at least saved them from major injury. Without the belts, they would have not been so lucky to walk away from a serious accident.
Originally posted by: Alprazolam
How so? What reason is there to ticket someone for making a choice not to wear their seatbelt? And then be able to search their vehicle? Please Inform me.

By not wearing your seatbelt you rase my insurace rates when my insurace company needs to pay to have your beat up body buried after you go though the windshield and smear your face ont he pavement.
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Think before you speak. If they're dead, they're not costing you anything. If they survive and need treatment, then they cost you money.

see above.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
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Originally posted by: Excelsior
Only children should be required by law to wear a seatbelt.
why? because it's ok for children to survive while their parents die in an accident rendering them parent-less?

 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
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Originally posted by: NTB
Originally posted by: Alprazolam
Seatbelt Law= Complete BS. End of Story.

Seatbelt has saved my life at *least* twice. I don't really call that B.S.

Nate

He never claimed that seatbelts don't work. They do, and I always wear mine. But that said, I think the seatbelt LAW is BS.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
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Sometime in the late 60s citizens of this country decided that there were an alarming number of people (men, women and children) needlessly dying in car accidents so Congress setup the NTSB and the NHTSA to study traffic fatalities and figure out how to prevent so many needless deaths.

Think of it this way, when you have children do you want them riding around in cars without wearing their seatbelt? Or on motorcycles without a helmet?

Fact is, if the laws weren't in place then fewer people would wear them and there would be more deaths. Just because you don't value human life doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way as you do. Most of us do and we the majority say you must wear a seatbelt when you drive or ride in a car. Deal with it.
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
0
0
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: NTB
Originally posted by: Alprazolam
Seatbelt Law= Complete BS. End of Story.

Seatbelt has saved my life at *least* twice. I don't really call that B.S.

Nate

He never claimed that seatbelts don't work. They do, and I always wear mine. But that said, I think the seatbelt LAW is BS.

Yeah, I guess I can see your point. I mean, if you really want to nominate yourself for a darwin award, why not? :p

Seriously though, a seatbelt is just plain common sense. People shouldn't HAVE to be told to wear one.

Nate
 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
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Originally posted by: Evadman

By not wearing your seatbelt you rase my insurace rates when my insurace company needs to pay to have your beat up body buried after you go though the windshield and smear your face ont he pavement.

That is not a valid argument to use. If that kind of rationale flew, then you'd have many groups trying to control other groups due to some by proxy rule.

For instance, I'm sure that Peta would like people to stop eating meat, and it is a well known fact that eating red meat clogs your arteries and causes heart disease. There are other food choices, why eat red meat?

But we have a choice. We're allowed to eat things which aren't really that healthy, just because we want to.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
The law also reduces insurance rates. Unbelted and un-helmeted people cause a huge amount of expenses from a medical treatment standpoint.

I think that the laws should be repealed, but that if you ride a motorcycle without a helmet or ride in a car without a seat belt you should automatically forfeit your right to medical treatment.

ZV
 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


Think of it this way, when you have children do you want them riding around in cars without wearing their seatbelt? Or on motorcycles without a helmet?

Ah, the lame "think of the children" tactic.

Just because you don't value human life doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way as you do.

Another lame politician's trick. Say that if you don't agree with me, then you don't care about life.

I'm not telling anyone that they shouldn't wear their seatbelt. I'm saying that it's not the government's job to tell us to wear them.

There are many things in life which are a good idea. I don't need a government mandate to tell me to do them.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
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JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
1,005
126
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The law also reduces insurance rates. Unbelted and un-helmeted people cause a huge amount of expenses from a medical treatment standpoint.

I think that the laws should be repealed, but that if you ride a motorcycle without a helmet or ride in a car without a seat belt you should automatically forfeit your right to medical treatment.

ZV

Riiight, so the medical personel just see you lying there and say well, he wasn't wearing his seatbelt...we must let him bleed to death.

What about the cost to clean the dead carcass from the side of the road? That costs money too. Do we just leave the remains there for the family to pick up when they get around to it? Better yet, lets put his head on a stake and plant it in the ground at the spot he died as a lesson to others. :roll:
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
1,005
126
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


Think of it this way, when you have children do you want them riding around in cars without wearing their seatbelt? Or on motorcycles without a helmet?

Ah, the lame "think of the children" tactic.

Just because you don't value human life doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way as you do.

Another lame politician's trick. Say that if you don't agree with me, then you don't care about life.

I'm not telling anyone that they shouldn't wear their seatbelt. I'm saying that it's not the government's job to tell us to wear them.

There are many things in life which are a good idea. I don't need a government mandate to tell me to do them.

Actually, it is. We, the people, made it the governments job.

Oh, and get back to me when you have children.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: Evadman

By not wearing your seatbelt you rase my insurace rates when my insurace company needs to pay to have your beat up body buried after you go though the windshield and smear your face ont he pavement.

That is not a valid argument to use. If that kind of rationale flew, then you'd have many groups trying to control other groups due to some by proxy rule.

I'm not quite sure what country you live in, but that is EXACTLY what tons of groups do in the US.

 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Riiight, so the medical personel just see you lying there and say well, he wasn't wearing his seatbelt...we must let him bleed to death.

What about the cost to clean the dead carcass from the side of the road? That costs money too. Do we just leave the remains there for the family to pick up when they get around to it? Better yet, lets put his head on a stake and plant it in the ground at the spot he died as a lesson to others. :roll:

Do you ever attempt to make rational points, or do you squarely go for the emotional, politician-type arguments?

"Won't someone just think of the children?"

"Are you saying that we should kill puppies?"

"I think that world peace is a good idea."