By Jean Littman

Despite statistics to support the seat belt case, there is still plenty of controversy surrounding the claim that mandatory seat belt laws save lives. Many of us have been around long enough to remember when seat belts were not even installed in vehicles. In the rare event that seat belts were installed, they were often regarded as a nuisance and pushed aside. Drivers in their fifties and sixties cannot recall wearing seat belts as a child – back then, adults usually didn’t wear seat belts and neither did children.

There is plenty of recognized research to show that many lives could have been saved had the occupants in motor vehicle accidents been wearing seat belts. People turn into deadly projectiles during a high speed vehicle impact, smashing into windscreens, steering wheels, other occupants and being hurtled outside the car. Even a minor accident can kill someone if they are not wearing a seat belt. One blow to a vulnerable part of the head is all it takes.

As an Australian resident, I have lived for many years with a seat belt law that helps protect and save lives. I never get into a vehicle without wearing a seat belt and will not allow passengers into my vehicle without wearing one. I also remind drivers to wear their seat belts when I am their passenger. Why? Because ‘buckling-up’ a seat belt saves lives – and it only takes a few seconds prior to driving off.

It is sometimes difficult to understand why people get offended when the government passes laws that make sense. Speeding laws are a good example of this. People don’t always abide by speeding laws. They know they run a risk of serious accident or a traffic citation, but they do it anyway.

Those who disagree with the claim that mandatory seat belt laws save lives believe ‘buckling up’ is a nuisance and serves no useful purpose. In fact there are many who feel it is a gross invasion of privacy, and want to be able make their own decisions about wearing seat belts. People will always break driving laws, but it doesn’t mean those laws are wrong and should not exist.

The mandatory seat belt laws save lives. That’s the fact, Jack! Driving laws are basically good decisions which are intended to help us stay safe on the roads. The mandatory seat belt laws just make too much sense to argue with them. Children “do as we do, not as we say” much of the time. Statistics reveal that if parents don’t ‘buckle-up’, children’s seat belt usage drops by 36 percent

When it comes to seat belts, it’s time to let the government interfere. When they do get something right, let’s not complain but instead give them some accolades. Speeding and seat belt laws are not punishment, they are mechanisms which could save our lives.

Hard facts and research data supporting the fact that mandatory seat belt laws saves lives is readily available on the web. For example, check out the statistics on driving laws at nhtsa.dot.gov – they speak for themselves. After a good read, I’m sure you will agree that mandatory seat belt laws save lives!

About the Author: Jean Littman is co-owner of

DefensiveDriverSense.com

which provides quality resources on

defensive driving techniques

, advanced driving and traffic safety programs.

Source:

isnare.com

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