Loosen seat belt laws!




I believe we should treat not wearing a seat belt like smoking cigarettes. I am in favor of more of a New Hampshire-like legal code for this where seat belts are only required to be worn for minors in California. Which is not to say that people shouldn't wear seat belts. There are a lot of things that people shouldn't do and have no laws to prevent them from doing it. And to be clear I doubt my beliefs on seat belt laws are popular enough among California lawmakers to become law, and it is not very likely that I would even propose such a bill although I'd surely vote for it if presented with that option.




This is one rare instance  where I might agree with Milton Friedman. Although I disagree with him about motorcycle helmets as in my opinion motorcycles are so dangerous in the event of an accident a law to require wearing a helmet would be justified. I personally once saw a motorcyclist riding one of those lightweight large engine trick motorcycles and the individual accidentally hit a curb, was catapulted into the air flipped over the power line and dropped to the street head first, landing directly on his helmet. I assume he died in spite of the helmet but anyway motorcycles are much more dangerous than cars in my opinion and should be treated accordingly.






Comments