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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!wmartin
From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal
Subject: Re: Seatbelts for passengers
Message-ID: <639@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 14:23:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.639
Posted: Mon Aug 12 14:23:36 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 01:47:27 EDT
References: <535@brl-tgr.ARPA> <870@mtuxo.UUCP>
Reply-To: wmartin@brl-bmd.UUCP
Organization: USAMC ALMSA, St. Louis, MO
Lines: 26
Xref: linus net.auto:6575 net.legal:1674

In article <870@mtuxo.UUCP> gv@mtuxo.UUCP (g.valentini) writes:
>
>The reason for front seat passengers to be buckled up is so that tir  
>brains won't be splatterd all over the windshield in case of head-on
>collision. COME ON!!. Did you know that a head-on collision at
>30 mph is equivalent to jumping off a three story building head-first.
>
>If you don't already wear your seatbelt regularly, you should start
>thinking about it.

Come now! This has been discussed repeatedly already. The net consensus
has been that laws meant *simply* or *merely* to protect people from the
consequences of their *own* actions are unjustifiable. The seatbelt laws
have been justified by the protection they offer to OTHERS, specifically
in regard to the driver's ability to retain control in an accident. This
was clearly stated in my original posting and has been reiterated by
many other posters. Please, if you have come into this discussion late
with no knowledge of its history or background, please just read it for
a while first! The point and question, which has not yet been answered
by anyone, is how the laws requiring that *front-seat only passengers*
wear belts can be justified, in such a manner that the laws should not
also be applied to ALL passengers in the vehicle, with regard to the
protection of OTHERS [or the general public]. I am beginning to believe
that there is *no* justification for such laws; the rationale for their
always including passengers instead of simply specifying the driver
alone is not clear and has not been explained by anyone, as far as I see.