On the promise of reducing highway fatalities and auto insurance
rates, seat-belt laws began to pass in state legislatures throughout
the United States beginning in 1985.


While such laws had been proposed before 1985, they were rejected by
most state legislators since they knew the vast majority of the people
opposed them. "The Gallup Opinion Index," report no. 146, October
1977, stated: "In the latest survey, a huge majority, 78 percent,
opposes a law that would fine a person $25 for failure to use a seat
belt. This represents an increase of resistance since 1973 to such a
law. At that time 71 percent opposed a seat belt use law." "The Gallup
Report" (formerly "The Gallup Opinion Index"), no. 205, October 1982,
report showed that a still-high 75 percent queried in June of that
year opposed such a law.

Given the massive, obvious opposition to seat-belt laws, why did state legislators suddenly change their minds and begin to pass them in
1985? Simple-money and federal blackmail. According to the Associated
Press, Brian O'Neill, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, said, "People have been talking about seatbelt laws and there
have been attempts to pass them for well over 10 years. It's been a
snowball effect, once the money poured in."

https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/67-2021/testimony/HTRAN-2121-20210318-9940-F-GREENSTEIN_GORDON_W.pdf

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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.

Insurance and automakers were behind the push, for their own reasons.

Have you tried hitting a fast-moving freight train, with seat belts
fastened? In newspapers, they sometimes report the dead
drivers/passengers were not wearing their seatbelts.

Statistically, seat belt usage can reduce injury amounts, but saving
lives may be exaggerated. Each accident would have to be evaluated

People do get killed by air bags. A hard punch in the face sometimes.

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On 12/15/2024 7:48 PM, JAB wrote:

Given the massive, obvious opposition to seat-belt laws, why did state legislators suddenly change their minds and begin to pass them in
1985? Simple-money and federal blackmail.

Regardless of the reasoning, seat belts save lives, period. I rolled a
1996 Chevy S10 a few years ago. Thank God, the airbag was
non-functional, or that would have hurt. I rolled it off the side of interstate 376 but walked away with only a few scratches and a bruise to
my ego. The truck was totaled, but the two things I'm positive saved me
was the welded pipe ladder rack, and also the fact that I always wear a
seat belt when I drive (unless the vehicle is not so equipped).

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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.

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