Seatbelt Poll

[Sojourner]

My brother's wife was killed in a head-on accident in '98 and she was wearing a seatbelt. She wasn't very tall and so had to sit close to the steering wheel, which is what killed her. Her grandmother was also killed and her daughter was left with very severe brain damage and cannot walk or talk. The lady who hit them was also killed.

Motorcyclists don't have to wear helmets in PA anymore, but seatbelts are mandatory.....something wrong with that picture.

[Psalms18_28]

Seatbelts are not foolproof, but the purpose of wearing seatbelts is to lower the risk of dying or severely injured in a car accident. Better safe than sorry.

[Anon]

My mom died in a car accident too...she was also close to the steering wheel (short) but the way she hit I'm not sure if anything could have helped. Somehow she ran into the back axle of a flatbed semi at an intersection. :sad To this day we can't figure out how it happened, she was always a careful driver.

[Randy]

Motorcyclists don't have to wear helmets in PA anymore, but seatbelts are mandatory.....something wrong with that picture.

An argument (I'm not sure if it is a good one or not) can be made that a helmet restricts the cyclists vision, and increases the chance of being in an accident.

Anyone who wants to ride without a helmet should be required to fill out an organ donor form - they don't call them donorcycles for nothing...

[Anon]

The stupid thing is, a motorcyclist doesn't have to wear a helmet...but a little kid riding a training wheel bike in his driveway DOES!

:loco

[John81]

We don't have to wear helmets on motorcycles and kids don't have to wear them on bikes either.

We have a measure of freedom when riding motorcycles and bikes but not riding in our cars and trucks.

[Tim]

We don't have to wear helmets on motorcycles and kids don't have to wear them on bikes either.

We have a measure of freedom when riding motorcycles and bikes but not riding in our cars and trucks.

Maybe those who choose to ride without a helment or seat belt could sign an agreement that no public funds can be used to treat their injuries, keep them alive, or support their families if they are injuried or die in a accident. With freedom comes responsibility.

[John81]

That's why we have those laws, because the government has stepped in and forced doctors and hospitals to treat everyone, even if they can't pay. Then the government got into the medical payment business and anything they are involved in they want a say in all of it.

I agree 100% that whatever a person chooses, they should accept responsibility for their actions.

Kind of off topic, but have you ever wondered about those who choose to climb dangerous mountains or trek off into the wilderness in dangerous areas and then get lost or hurt and rescue teams are called in which often cost large amounts of manhours and thousands of dollars? That's taxpayer money being spent on folks who made a choice to engage in hazardous activities without taking responsibility for what might happen.

[Tim]

My employer's health care plan will not pay as much (higher deductable) if someone is in a wreck and not wearing a seat belt. Also injuries are not covered if they occur when the employee is involved in certain activities "high risk" (skydiving, car / motorcycle racing, and mountain climbing are a few of the activities specifically mentioned).

[John81]

Exactly Tim! Yet if a person chooses to engage in such high-risk, non-covered activities and runs into problems, one level of government or another ends up paying a high price for search and rescue and medical procedures must be done even if the person can't pay for it.

[Tim]

Yup

[Anon]

They definately need to start making even government-funded healthcare plans to include copays...and they also need to start capping medical malpractice.

This is especially critical for pg women... hospital after hospital and dr after dr are dropping labor and delivery because the medical malpractice insurance is too high and they can't afford it.

[Tim]

They definately need to start making even government-funded healthcare plans to include copays...and they also need to start capping medical malpractice.

This is especially critical for pg women... hospital after hospital and dr after dr are dropping labor and delivery because the medical malpractice insurance is too high and they can't afford it.

:thumb