Seat belts reduce the risk of death in road accidents, but laws and enforcement vary between US states. New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require adults to wear seat belts. Some argue that seat belt laws infringe on personal liberty, while others advocate for seat belts in all modes of transportation. Statistics show that fatality rates are higher in states without seat belt laws, but ignorance of the laws can make enforcement difficult. Some parents advocate for seat belts on school buses despite the expense.
There is significant evidence that wearing a seat belt dramatically reduces the risk of death in road traffic accidents. Since 1985, all states in the United States have mandated the use of infant car seats and booster seats for young children. Almost every state in the United States has legislation relating to adults, but the specific enforcement of these laws varies between states. In some states, an adult not wearing a seat belt is a primary misdemeanor, while in others, it is a secondary misdemeanor.
New Hampshire is the only state that does not require adults to wear seat belts in a motor vehicle. On a related note, there are three states that don’t require motorcycle helmets: New Hampshire, Illinois, and Iowa.
For some, it may be difficult to understand the arguments of states without seat belt laws. In essence, the argument of such states does not boil down to a dispute over whether it is safer to use seat belts, but instead tends to hinge on the concept of free choice. Some citizens are concerned that requiring seat belts infringes on personal liberty and that states that do not require seat belts are simply asserting the rights of individual citizens to make their own choices. Those who oppose compulsory seat belts may say that sometimes personal liability needs to be legislated to protect citizens.
Statistics show that traffic fatality rates are highest on rural roads in states that don’t require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts. Conversely, crash fatality rates are lower in states that require you to wear a seat belt. However, many people are ignorant of seat belt laws, making it potentially difficult to enforce seat belt laws.
Supporters of seat belt laws may be interested not only in seat belt laws affecting passenger cars, but also in school buses and public transportation. Policies affecting these modes of transportation are changing in many states moving towards requiring new buses to be fitted with seat belts and for student passengers to buckle up. For some parents, this change isn’t happening fast enough. The hesitation on the issue may be less about personal freedom and more about simple economics: Fitting seat belts on buses can be expensive. Many parents argue, however, that there isn’t too much of an expense when it comes to children’s lives.
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