Should Airbags and Wearing Seatbelts be Mandatory?

[SCRunner12]

I worked for a school and we had a short school bus we would use for trips. Each seat had a seatbelt and we definitely made sure each kid had one on. Yeah it is tough on the huge school buses to check each kid, especially during the ride, but they are nice to have. We've all seen the videos of kids slamming into the roof of a school bus.

I just don't find the issue with putting on a seatbelt. It takes 2 seconds and I forget its there. I actually feel weird when I don't have a seatbelt on. It all depends on the person, but I feel at least the driver has to wear one and anyone under 18 in the car.

 

[blaniac22]

Regarding schoolbus seatbelts - six states require them: California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Lousiana and Texas (pending as of late last year - not sure of the outcome)

It comes down to cost vs. benefits - here's a good article covering the topic.

Why your child's school bus has no seat belts - US news - Life - msnbc.com

 

[cfranck1]

I never wore when i was younger. I hated wearing the thing. But I got rear ended once in a friends truck and somehow had a seatbelt on, and I swear it saved my life in that accident.

I wear one all the time now.
Hears some food for thought.

YouTube - ‪What happens when you dont wear a seat belt‬‏

I think it's one of the best commercial I've ever seen
YouTube - ‪Embrace Life - always wear your seat belt‬‏

 

[Maritimer]

If I run into a car in which the driver is not wearing a seat beat and that person ends up in a coma rather than with some broken bones, should my liability insurance cover that? Seat belt laws are a great way to keep insurance reasonable. You give up a bit of freedom when you go into public.

 

[JohnsD90]

Regarding schoolbus seatbelts - six states require them: California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Lousiana and Texas (pending as of late last year - not sure of the outcome)

It comes down to cost vs. benefits - here's a good article covering the topic.

Why your child's school bus has no seat belts - US news - Life - msnbc.com

I went to school in NY and they may be required but i have NEVER seen that rule enforce in my 11 in new yorks public schools....

 

[JohnsD90]

If I run into a car in which the driver is not wearing a seat beat and that person ends up in a coma rather than with some broken bones, should my liability insurance cover that? Seat belt laws are a great way to keep insurance reasonable. You give up a bit of freedom when you go into public.

Most insurance isnt reasonable, they still make money off of you even if that siuation happens

 

[4Runner8]

what has been killed off because of airbags? defenders?

 

[IanB]

And how would you make sure that each child (50+) was wearing their seat belt at all times?

This, coupled with the fact that a bus is bigger and better equipped to deal with an impact than pretty well anything else on the road. As a kid I saw a station wagon rear end a city bus at 70+km/h, my Dad told me years later that he heard it was a suicide attempt. The car was 2/3 the length it started, and the driver was dead/successful. I remember watching passengers walk off, unhurt, obviously none were buckled in.

That said, I believe seatbelts and seatbelt use should be mandatory, it's just a good habit that makes a lot of sense, like windshields and functioning brakes.

Airbags should be optional, both in equipment and use senses.

Helmet laws are in place for a reason. There are a whole slew of 2nd chances that riders wouldn't have gotten had it not been for helmet use. It doesn't take too big a hit on the melon to leave your family without a son, brother, dad, etc, and you have zero control over what other drivers do around you.

 

[JohnsD90]

what has been killed off because of airbags? defenders?

lol maybe

 

[wilkymouse113]

I agree with Boot - you don't wear your belt - you forfeit your insurance... The problem is - a hospital has to treat an injured person - in the absence of insurance - or forfeiting it - The state and taxpayer will ultimately pay for someones poor decisions so yes I believe they should be mandatory. Your freedom to make poor safety decisions or freedom of the taxpayers wallet?? taxpayers win.. Belt up!

I agree with this completely. Beyond that, someone not wearing a seatbelt is more likely to become a projectile in an accident and cause more damage and/or further accidents so they're not only a burden on everyone else but a hazard to more than just themselves.

My parents grew up not wearing seatbelts, but they knew they wanted us to be safe and got used to wearing them because they wanted to set an example for us. It's kind of like how I'm a less aggressive/much more careful driver when I have any kids/teens in the car - I want them to be safe and I want to set a good example.

The money argument is the best one for safety gear overall - cars and motorcycles. It really is effective though! I'd hate to be in a car wreck without my seatbelt or a bike wreck without all my gear. At least in cars airbags and seatbelts don't cost extra, whereas a good helmet/jacket/boots/gloves will run one at least several hundred dollars.

I'm all for freedom unless everyone except the one exercising it has to pay.

 

[Beakerbox]

Yea right on. I've easily spent in excess of $2k on helmets, jacket, pants, boots, gloves and spine protector.. probably more - I'm afraid to add it all up.

I live in SoCal, and no matter how hot it gets I never ride without my full gear.. I'm no prude on a motorcycle - been riding 18 years - but it boggles my mind when I see all these guys splitting lanes in excess of 50mph in shorts, sandles and tshirts. Even many CHP motorcycle cop deaths could be avoided with proper gear - but the cops gear is totally inadequate. There's no doubt in my mind I've walked away from accidents I wouldn't have, had I not been wearing the gear. I've slid down the freeway belly down in the rain - came off at 60+ and I was able to get up unscathed! Good luck doing that in shorts and a Tshirt. With all the traffic down here it's only a matter of time before someone cuts you off or does the infamous left turn into you as happened to me in San francisco about 6 years ago.

With todays technology be it a car or bike there's just no reason not to avail of the safety aspects. There's nothing cool about needless roadrash or picking windshield pieces out of your face.. I know one guy who lost his teeth on the steering wheel of a prelude. Some of his teeth were actually stuck in the plastic of the wheel.

Dress for the fall - not for the ride as they say.