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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!ut-sally!oakhill!cyb-eng!topher
From: topher@cyb-eng.UUCP (Topher Eliot)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.flame,net.kids
Subject: Re: Seat belts
Message-ID: <536@cyb-eng.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Apr-85 17:13:02 EST
Article-I.D.: cyb-eng.536
Posted: Fri Apr 19 17:13:02 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Apr-85 06:48:40 EST
References: <429@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <335@calmasd.UUCP>
Organization: Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
Lines: 38
Xref: watmath net.auto:6497 net.flame:9433 net.kids:1218

> . . . But if I don't wear a seat belt, I'm not endangering
> anyone but myself. 
> 
> The REAL issue is, should the government(s) be making laws
> *requiring* people to wear seat belts just because it's "for
> your own good"?   . . .

1)	If you are injured, your bills will be paid out of an insurance
fund, driving up MY insurance bills.  I admit that this is argument is a
little weak, since in theory I could find myself an insurer who insures
only people who wear seatbelts.

2)	When you run through your insurance and run out of money, your
bills will be paid from my tax dollars.  I could ask if you were willing to
sign a form swearing that when your own insurance and other financial
resources were exhausted, you really and truly want to be left to die, but
of course such a document would not be enforceable in our society.  Our
legal system won't let you sign away such rights -- for your own good.

3)	There is considerable evidence that wearing a seatbelt improves
one's ability to control one's vehicle in emergency situations,
consequently protecting others (read "me") on the road.  I have an article
from the local rag about this; I will gladly send copies to anyone who
sends me their US mail address  (no, I will not type it in).

4)	Even though the author of the posting to which I am responding did
not mention this, I will take the occasion to state my views on driving
around with children unbuckled:  it's in the same class as letting infants
play in the road, giving drugs to adolescents, leaving toddlers at home
alone with loaded guns, etc.  People who do it should go to jail.  The
argument that "parents have a right to handle their kids as they want to,
as long as they aren't INTENDING to harm the kids" is utter crap.  Society
has an obligation to protect children from their parent's stupidity and
laziness.

Cheers,
Topher Eliot                                           Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
         {gatech,ihnp4,nbires,seismo,ucb-vax}!ut-sally!cyb-eng!topher