[net.auto] seatbelts and safety

kgdykes (08/17/82)

Now if only i  can get stuart to  help against helmet laws....
after all helmets are uncomfortable, expensive, not PROVEN to really help, etc....
(in fact, Motorcycle Safety Foundation 1980 stats show 
      9.20 deaths per 10,000 registrations for states *WITHOUT* helmet law
and   9.59 deaths per 10,000 registrations for states with helmet laws)
(i am not saying this is "proof" that NO helmet is safer, just i am hard
 to convince that PROOF exists that they ARE safer
   for enforced every-trip usage)

 
    From utzoo!decvax!genradbo!stuart Fri Aug 13 08:17:28 1982
    Subject: seatbelts and freedom
    Newsgroups: net.auto
    
    
    Of course, using a seatbelt tremendously improves your probable condition
    following a collision.  Its excellent insurance at a very low price.
    BUT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO BUY THE SEATBELT INSURANCE, even at its low
    price.  The choice is clear and many, many people would prefer to take
    the risk rather than pay the price of reaching over to fasten their seat
    belt.  That's their choice, and in a 'free country' people are free to
    take risks, despite the apparent foolishness of such behavior.  Individuals
    are FREE TO FAIL, free to do (apparently) foolish or stupid things.
    (And what about the few people who survive because they are thrown from 
     their car, because they did NOT use their seat belts?)
    
    The desire of millions of purchasers of automobile to NOT purchase the
    non-optional seatbelts is clear.  Millions are being forced to purchase
    things which they do not want and will not use even after being forced
    to buy them.
    
    The more consistent advocates of using such force claim that we ALL suffer.
    I leave the argument against that claim as an exercise in understanding
    how freedom means a right to act, not a right to some *thing*.  
    (HOW do we 'all' suffer?)