I agree totally with DonPat. The same people who scream that the Evil Government is infringing on their right to be stupid are the first to scream “Workmen’s Comp,” “Malpractice,” and “Disability,” then lean on insurers to cover every imaginable ache or pain.

Loki03 — Don’t get mad at JohnH. Those of us who have read his rants on this blog for ages know when he’s off his meds, and when his fantasies are the most fanciful. It’s just Johnh being Johnh….he can’t help himself. He was an abused child and the lobotomy didn’t take.

Oh — I forgot — WELCOME BACK ROBSMYTHE!

1. Seat belts save lives. When first introduced, there was almost an immediate reduction of traffic deaths. This has been proven over and again. All other “reasons” to not wear them are fallacious and have no basis in fact. For those who try to come up with the “driving along water” scenario, please stop and think for a moment longer. If your vehicle impacts water and you are not wearing your seat belt, the likelihood is that you will be thrown forward and be knocked unconscious by the impact. (To understand this, get on a high dive and do a belly flop.) The only mitigating circumstance is your air bag might prevent you from too much forward impact, but it will not prevent side-to-side trauma.

2. The old axiom from when my wife worked in the OR was that motorcyclists who did not wear helmets were known as “organ donors”.

3. “Does the government have a right to enforce safety standards?” This is an idiotic question. There are those who run around talking about the “nanny state” when such standards are met. The problem is that seat belt laws, helmet laws, fire and safety codes, etc. are designed to set a minimum standard. Those who assume that they would survive without these are making a full set of wrongful assumptions some of which follow:
a. only by being “free of restraints” can they effectively avoid injury;
b. paradoxically, if they are free of such restraints they will die “free”;
c. such restraints do not apply to them because they are physically fit, “a good driver”, etc.

These assumptions are wrongful simply because while they may “die free”, their families and society must deal with the aftermath. If they survive, they may survive in a persistent vegetative state, and again it is their family and society that must deal with the aftermath.

Lastly, if you adhere to one of the above assumptions, call your insurance agent and have them explain the fine print in your policies to you.

I won’t argue against wearing seatbelts/helmets, they really do save lives.

I don’t think it should be the law, because those laws interfere with natural selection.

I really wish the Police would find something else to do….like catching real criminals, and maintaining a high profile at shopping areas.

Yep… I buckle up right before I reach down and either light a cigarette or whip out my handy dandy cellphone before I even get out of a parking spot(since I know buckling will keep me safer in my car) <— note the sarcasm.

I would dare say that the marjority here, not necessarily all but could be ALL, that state how faithfully they buckle up also NEVER exceed the speed limit and come to a complete stop at each and ever stop sign or red light. All of which are ‘guidelines/standards of safety’. Do you go 20 in school zone or 21-22 because it is ‘close enough’ and you are in a hurry? (<— note more sarcasm).

Point is, whose safety is at risk if I choose to not buckle? Mine. I thank each and everyone of you for your concern that I may/may not buckle, but really I got this one. You want to police what others do; start with the person in the mirror and you can take comfort and satisfaction that you are monitoring your OWN safety.

These laws are strictly for generating revenue. As an adult, I should have the right to make this choice for myself. What’s next, I get fined for using the toilet standing up?

The hefty insurance premiums I pay every month are enough to ensure that my bills will be covered and I don’t need the state to pay anything!

It is personal preverance if you want to our not, period. As an adult you should be able to choose whether or not you want to use seatbelts or helmets. You are not hurting other drivers by not doing this. I’m 45 and have never worn a seatbelt in my life. I do not want others/gov. telling me what I can and cannot do as long as it doesn’t effect others!!!

10/28/1988 on a Friday night Approx 1am at the intersection of Hwys H & J in Portage De Siox (sp?)He was flown to Barnes downtown I went to St. joseph’s in St. Charles. Believe me now? The reason he survived because he was thrown to my side of the car (passenger) there was no drivers side left. Also a girl in the back seat didn’t have a seatbelt on and she survived with minor injuries. The point of impact was at the drivers door, broadside, wrapped around a telephone pole. My point being, we don’t need the government to make these stupid laws they’ll never enforce. Protect us from criminals, not from ourselves.

Either make everyone do it, or don’t do it at all. All states, all helmets, all seatbelts BUT ESPECIALLY school buses. Why shouldn’t the children be protected? And don’t want to hear reply about bus turning over and everyone hanging upside down - upside down is better than out the window!
Also, part of me says we let people drink and drive and smoke around everyone and there’s not a safety law around, let them make their own decisions about whether or not they should wear helmets or seatbelts.

There isn’t much difference. Both laws are an invasion of privacy and a move at the wallets of Missouri drivers by the various state and local governments.

DonPat, isn’t it illegal for hospitals to deny care for those who can’t pay? And how do they know you can’t pay ahead of time? I’ve never been asked for prepayment–even my co-pay in the ER. I almost agree with your insurance point, but I think a lot of times it would be hard to prove no seatbelts were worn, unless the person was crushed in the car or something. But, the fact of the matter is, the laws created to simply protect adults from themselves are too much for me. Minors, yes make them do it.
Also, I’ve always wondered why seatbelts aren’t required for schoolbuses. Or booster seats, especially since that age/weight limit is higher and generally includes all kindergardners and some 1st graders.