Re: The Fraud of Seat-Belt Laws

On Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:32:00 -0500, Michael Trew
<michael.trew@att.net> wrote:

Regardless of the reasoning, seat belts save lives, period.

But, an individual should decide....

1950 - Two lane highways, where head-on collisions were common.

1956:  Eisenhower Interstate System - Greatly reduced head-on
collisions when opposing lanes had a barrier between them, or at a
greater separation distance between opposing lanes.

Statistics do not tell the full story.  I drive rural two lane
highways mostly where in ten miles, I might meet another vehicle; on
these roadways, a head-on collision is extremely rare, but driving off
the roadway is not uncommon (single vehicle accidents are the rule).
But, around bigger city 2-lane highways, head-ons and driving off the
roadway are common.

"Rhode Island had the highest percentage of deaths in single-vehicle
crashes (71%), while Nebraska had the highest percentage of deaths in
multiple-vehicle ..."

"Mississippi records the highest rate of traffic fatalities
nationwide, while New York reports the lowest. Montana experiences the
highest rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths."

In other words, YMMV, depending upon your location.  I have about 1
million driving miles, with about 1/4 million motorcycle miles of that
total, and I avoid accidents by paying attention, and by evasive
actions.  If I were to drive in the bigger cities, a seatbelt is
prudent, but out here, my chances of a serious accident are quite low.