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This is where I reveal myself as a heartless bastard (which I've already done quite a few times, but hell, why not reconfirm it?)
The latest report on seatbelt use from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (due for release today, apparently) indicates that 48 million people US-wide refuse to wear a seatbelt when they're driving.
Here's the link. 48 Million Refuse To Buckle Up
Now, the heartless bit: so fucking what if they refuse to buckle up? Why bother with mandatory fines for those who're too stupid to do something that'll keep them safe when driving? I look at this as Darwinism in action. Guy drives pickup truck without seat belt. Guy gets in a wreck. Guy flies through the windshield and the pickup truck rolls over him. Guy's genes are removed from the gene pool, keeping him from propagating his stupidity further.
What's the problem?
The government is very keen on citations, security checkpoints, patrols aimed at increasing seatbelt usage, and so on. "Must do all we can to increase seatbelt usage" is the rally cry. But again, it's one that I think is completely without merit.
It's like requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets and citing them if they don't. Once more, what's the point? If an adult human being wants to get on a 130hp superbike and rocket down the highway at 80 mph while wearing just a T-shirt and jeans, why should we bother stopping him? He's old enough to make his own decisions, no matter how stupid they might be. He's also old enough to deal with the consequences of those actions, such as the fact that his skull will crack open like an eggshell and splatter his brains on the road when his bike runs over a nail and flips him off.
Now, I *do* think there is a certain amount of justification for citing people who don't make their kids buckle up, or wear helmets on motorcycles, or whatever. Kids don't have the experience or maturity to make those decisions for themselves, so their parents should be seeing to it that they buckle up and helmet up, regardless of what their own personal beliefs are. If a cop stops somebody whose kids aren't buckled, cite the parent for that; it's their responsibility to protect their kids.
But if the car's full of adults (18 or over) and they're not wearing seatbelts, or if the motorcycle pilot without a helmet is past the age where he's considered an adult, let them go with a smile and a wave. And then hope they hit a large immovable object somewhere down the road and remove themselves from the gene pool as soon as possible.
No, it's not a very nice attitude. But it's mine.
For the record, I have worn a seatbelt every damn time I've gotten in a car since my parents told me that seatbelts help protect me in the case of an accident. I don't remember how old I was, but it was long before I reached driving age. I had responsible parents, you see -- a rarity these days.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know if you wear a seatbelt when driving.]]
The latest report on seatbelt use from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (due for release today, apparently) indicates that 48 million people US-wide refuse to wear a seatbelt when they're driving.
Here's the link. 48 Million Refuse To Buckle Up
Now, the heartless bit: so fucking what if they refuse to buckle up? Why bother with mandatory fines for those who're too stupid to do something that'll keep them safe when driving? I look at this as Darwinism in action. Guy drives pickup truck without seat belt. Guy gets in a wreck. Guy flies through the windshield and the pickup truck rolls over him. Guy's genes are removed from the gene pool, keeping him from propagating his stupidity further.
What's the problem?
The government is very keen on citations, security checkpoints, patrols aimed at increasing seatbelt usage, and so on. "Must do all we can to increase seatbelt usage" is the rally cry. But again, it's one that I think is completely without merit.
It's like requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets and citing them if they don't. Once more, what's the point? If an adult human being wants to get on a 130hp superbike and rocket down the highway at 80 mph while wearing just a T-shirt and jeans, why should we bother stopping him? He's old enough to make his own decisions, no matter how stupid they might be. He's also old enough to deal with the consequences of those actions, such as the fact that his skull will crack open like an eggshell and splatter his brains on the road when his bike runs over a nail and flips him off.
Now, I *do* think there is a certain amount of justification for citing people who don't make their kids buckle up, or wear helmets on motorcycles, or whatever. Kids don't have the experience or maturity to make those decisions for themselves, so their parents should be seeing to it that they buckle up and helmet up, regardless of what their own personal beliefs are. If a cop stops somebody whose kids aren't buckled, cite the parent for that; it's their responsibility to protect their kids.
But if the car's full of adults (18 or over) and they're not wearing seatbelts, or if the motorcycle pilot without a helmet is past the age where he's considered an adult, let them go with a smile and a wave. And then hope they hit a large immovable object somewhere down the road and remove themselves from the gene pool as soon as possible.
No, it's not a very nice attitude. But it's mine.
For the record, I have worn a seatbelt every damn time I've gotten in a car since my parents told me that seatbelts help protect me in the case of an accident. I don't remember how old I was, but it was long before I reached driving age. I had responsible parents, you see -- a rarity these days.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know if you wear a seatbelt when driving.]]