I think that seat belts save lives more often than not. The only type of crash where I think that wearing a seat belt may actually kill you is if you see that your car is going to run under a semi trailer and you have time to duck before striking the trailer. But that seems like a pretty rare and specific type of crash, and as quickly as crashes occur, it seems unlikely to happen.
Seat belts do keep you in the vehicle, and that is a major reason that they are effective in lessening injuries and saving lives. In 2 crashes that I have had, the seat belt and airbag prevented me from going through the windshield. I always wear my seat belt because I've seen the benefit first hand.
As far as whether they should be mandatory by law, I'm kind of on the fence on that one. Everything else regarding vehicles, like licensing, registration, speed limits, traffic rules and vehicle lighting and safety equipment, is regulated. I don't see how wearing a seat belt is any different, as it is safety equipment and pertains to the safe operation of a vehicle. It is definitely harder to maintain control of your vehicle if you are sliding across your seat instead of buckled in. (Ask a race car driver)
But I do also understand how some people feel that it is an intrusion. And I don't understand why we have a seat belt law if we don't have a helmet law for motorcycles. Seems contradictory to me.
What I don't understand is the attitude of people who don't wear a seat belt simply because it against the law not to. Sort of a "flip them the bird" attitude. It seems like common sense to me to want to stay in the vehicle in a crash, and if the crash is so bad that your seat belt would kill you, you'd probably be ejected and killed anyway. There certainly are exceptions, just like anything, but betting on those exceptions seems like putting all your money on the Pacers to me.
Seat belts do keep you in the vehicle, and that is a major reason that they are effective in lessening injuries and saving lives. In 2 crashes that I have had, the seat belt and airbag prevented me from going through the windshield. I always wear my seat belt because I've seen the benefit first hand.
As far as whether they should be mandatory by law, I'm kind of on the fence on that one. Everything else regarding vehicles, like licensing, registration, speed limits, traffic rules and vehicle lighting and safety equipment, is regulated. I don't see how wearing a seat belt is any different, as it is safety equipment and pertains to the safe operation of a vehicle. It is definitely harder to maintain control of your vehicle if you are sliding across your seat instead of buckled in. (Ask a race car driver)
But I do also understand how some people feel that it is an intrusion. And I don't understand why we have a seat belt law if we don't have a helmet law for motorcycles. Seems contradictory to me.
What I don't understand is the attitude of people who don't wear a seat belt simply because it against the law not to. Sort of a "flip them the bird" attitude. It seems like common sense to me to want to stay in the vehicle in a crash, and if the crash is so bad that your seat belt would kill you, you'd probably be ejected and killed anyway. There certainly are exceptions, just like anything, but betting on those exceptions seems like putting all your money on the Pacers to me.