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From: dob@ihlpa.UUCP (Daniel M. O'Brien)
Newsgroups: net.cycle,net.politics,net.auto
Subject: Re: re Seat belts, Helmets and Freedom of Choice
Message-ID: <1600@ihlpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Jul-86 17:23:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpa.1600
Posted: Tue Jul 29 17:23:25 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 31-Jul-86 05:07:20 EDT
References: <472@water.UUCP> <1829@mtuxo.UUCP> <1597@ihlpa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 33
Xref: watmath net.cycle:1875 net.politics:17842 net.auto:11977

> An interesting parallel is appearing here in Illinois.  Last year
> the legislature (in an attempt to woo the Saturn plant) passes a
> mandatory seat belt law.  At the time, they promised a 50% compliance
> rate and a 300-500 per year reduction in the highway death rate.  Well,
> it's 11 months later, and the total reduction in the death rate is
> 32.  Compliance has been running about 35% statewide, highest in metropolitan
> areas (where there are more accidents), lower in the boonies.

BBAAAHHH - it just occurred to me that I must be a sheep.  I didn't bother to 
start wearing a seatbelt until forced to by the seatbelt law passed last year.
I didn't bother making my children buckleup until the child seatbelt law passed
the year before.  

Now I "don't go nowhere" until everyone I am responsible for (me and mine) are 
buckled-up and it don't matter NOW whether it's law or not.  I NOW choose to 
wear one.  Seatbelts are a good idea.  But I probably wouldn't have been made 
"aware" of this good idea without the law helping make me make a conscience 
choice.  

On the other hand, I also choose to wear a helmet when riding my motorcycle - 
been aware of that idea a long time now, but don't want the sleeping giant 
whose name is a four letter word - GVMT (spelled government) - from getting 
involved by making everyone else aware by passing gas (oops - I meant to say 
law).  

Paradoxial, isn't. 

-- 
			Daniel M. O'Brien (ihnp4!ihlpa!dob)
			AT&T Bell Laboratories
			IH 4A-257, x 4782
			Naperville-Wheaton Road
			Naperville, IL 60566