by Stephen B.

Created on: July 13, 2008

As the question on seat belt laws violating individual rights it does do that. But this is a complex society and one where nothing can just stand by itself without being affected by other factors. Seat belt laws are ther to protect us from ourselves.

The masses have showed time and time again over the course of history that we are our own worst enemies, so it is only natural that we enact restrictions on certain actions that can be dangerous to us. In the case of seat belts we know when we get into an automobile that there is a degree of risk involve in this mode of transportation since it is not difficult to open up the newspaper or watch the news to here about someone loosing thier life in an accident. But even knowing that, many people only keep the information in the back of there head where it will not affect decision making.

If you ask the parent of any child in place on this planet if seat belt laws are a good thing then the answer will be yes. Just think about this from a child's mind. They do not know one way or the other what is best for them so how would they know it is a good idea to wear a seatbelt? In a perfect world the child's parents would buckle them up before departing, but if the parent thinks they are not going to wreck and will not wear their own seatbelt why would they think any different for their child?

Now you might say child seat belt laws are important for the reason that children are not old enough or intelligent enough to protect themselves. That is fine but then you are saying that adults are intelligent enough and will take the nessecary action. If that was true then people would not be dying by flying through their windshields. Driving has become to much of a regular part of American society that we take it for granted instead as a priveledge. People are constantly flying down roads at high speeds without regard for themselves or others and this is serious problem that is harder to control. There is now way to stop people from having a lead foot because even drivers that get pulled over will just continue to drive faster than speed limits. It is much easier to get people to protect themselves by putting on a seat belt than it is to control how hard the step on the gas pedal.

Seat belt laws are not going to violate your right to free speech or expression or due process of law, but they could save your life. That sounds a lot more like it extends you the individual right to life than it does take away a small part of it because you might actually have to take three seconds to buckle up.

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