[LMB] Dark Beta is slipping under the radar

[Jelbelser]

Like with most things, reality in the issue of the effects of wearing 
seat belts in moving cars is much more complex than it may seem.  Seat 
belts do save many lives.  They can also cause harm.  How the 
statistics play out has so many complicating factors.

Disclaimer: My husband walked away (with lots of bruises and abrasions) 
from a traffic accident in which he would have been killed had he been 
wearing a seat belt, in the opinion of the Highway Patrol officer at 
the scene.  This officer also said that it was the only accident he had 
ever investigated in which that was true.  DH was passenger in a 
pick-up truck which flipped over on an interstate and slid on its 
collapsed roof for a distance.  He slid into the foot area.

I had and continue to wear a seat belt.  DH became more consistent 
after this accident.

I find air bags terrifying.  I've been in an accident in which they 
went off.  Since I and my children were wearing our seat belts, they 
were not needed.  The rationale I've seen for air bags is that they 
protect unbelted drivers.  Government here (USA) seems to want passive 
protection for those of us whom it judges irresponsible when it comes 
to seat belt use.  So now a young child can't sit next to a driving 
parent, making conversation and monitoring much more difficult.

Different citizens would pick a different point on the continuum of 
government interference vs. costs and individual risk/responsibility.  
Different nations have chosen different points.  I find that I am 
leaning more toward the individual choice end.

Janet in TN
>

> At 01:04 AM 9/11/2007, Rachel Ganz wrote:
>
>> I know that wikipedia is not a proper cite but
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_belt_legislation has links to some
>> more respectable sources
>> Rachel - must get back to work so can't do a proper hunt
>>
>
> Disclaimer: I lost my father and sister in separate car accidents.
> The one that took my father would have killed my mother as well but
> for her seat belt.