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Response		Percent	Votes
Yes.		87%	961
No.		9%	103
Only on the highway.		3%	36
Total	1100

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dani36921 2 years, 9 months ago

Let's see. Has the $5 fine made an impact?

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Impact? You just now used the word "Impact"? That's why seat belts should be worn!

optimist 2 years, 9 months ago

While I make it a practice to wear my seatbelt whenever I am behind the wheel I strongly object to the government (especially the federal government) essentially threatening me or any of us with fines as a means of coercing us to behave in a way that our political class demands of us. More importantly I find it objectionable that the federal government takes money from the Kansas taxpayers and holds it out as a carrot for the state In order to coerce the state to pass laws it otherwise wouldn't have passed. Today it's just a seatbelt law but who knows what tomorrow could bring. It violates the spirit of the Constitution if not it's letter where the sovereignty of the states is concerned. The Feds manipulate us and our state government using tax and funding policies. This is merely a circumvention of he 10th amendment.

vertigo 2 years, 9 months ago

Wow. I answered no as well... not for the insane reasons you give but because I get lazy about doing it.

Pywacket 2 years, 9 months ago

Please, Jesse, don't be lazy about this. I do not want to read your name as a fatality in a survivable collision. There are plenty of other, nonlethal, ways to enjoy laziness! ;-)

vertigo 2 years, 9 months ago

I know I know... I always say to myself as I'm driving with no belt on "I should throw my belt on real quick". It just doesn't happen.

I do wear it probably 60% of the time. I'm working on it, but I can be pretty stubborn at times.

Hydra 2 years, 9 months ago

Dang it Py. I knew there had to be some thorn in the rosebush. I do not believe a seatbelt is needed in town, at least for adults. Highway I can see, but how many fatal accidents have occured in Lawrence where a seatbelt would have made any difference? They do make cars nowdays with airbags (passive restraints).

Pywacket 2 years, 9 months ago

Everything will be fine, Hydra, as long as you realize that I am right on this one!

You're falling for one of the oldest, soothing (but potentially deadly) mistakes in the book... the old "if it hasn't happened here (or to me or to someone I know...) then it must not be anything to worry about.

That's the same argument smokers use when they declare that their great-aunt Minnie chainsmoked all her life and lived to be 92... Maybe she did, but that didn't mean she was wise to smoke. It just means she got lucky--and was an exception to the rule. If no unbelted-in driver or passenger has been killed in a Lawrence collision in recent memory (where the authorities indicate that the person prob. would've lived if belted in), it speaks more to random luck than to any wisdom in eschewing the seatbelt.

Doesn't matter if we can't turn to a recent in-town accident. Look at statistics--not to mention physics. And don't just look at death statistics--look at how many people are severely injured and disabled because they were not belted up for a quick trip across town--whatever town they live in, not necessarily Lawrence.

If you're driving down 23rd St at 35 mph and some doodlehead racing to get his Perkins pie fix blows through the stop light at 25-30 mph and plows into the side of your car, you could, without a seatbelt, be blown through the door upon impact, and your airbag is not going to stop that. Airbags are designed to be used in conjunction with belts/harnesses.

Even if you're poking along at 20 mph on a side street, do you really want to trust your life to the certainty that no one else is going to do something really stupid and illegal? It's bad enough when someone dies in a massive collision in which no one could've survived. When they die in a survivable accident, that is just wrong. Wear your seatbelt, even in town. For me... ;-)

Hydra 2 years, 9 months ago

Wear your seatbelt, even in town. For me... ;-)

Now that is not fighting fair!!! "O)~

Hydra 2 years, 9 months ago

P.S.

How about we compromise? I'll wear a seatbelt on my boat in rough weather. You can provide the cloven hoove's and I'll provide the sulpher smell! :O)~

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Next time you fly somewhere on a jet, explain to the flight attendant that having to wear your seatbelt for takeoffs and landings is a circumvention of the 10th amendment, and see if that flies.

Actually, they won't fine you - they'll just kick you off the flight.

Hydra 2 years, 9 months ago

Do you have to wear them if you own the jet?

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Hydra - Technically, no. But I used to work for a firm here in town that does aircraft flight testing (KSR), and I have also known a few jet pilots, including a passenger jetliner pilot. Not one of them would ever consider flying without without their seatbelt on.

Every single one of them was ever so quick to point out that a car is so much more dangerous than an aircraft, so I am quite sure that as a class, professional pilots probably have the highest seat belt usage rate in the world.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

There is no way to tell when the jet might hit CAT (clear air turbulence), and then all the unbelted passengers will literally hit the roof. Quite a few people have sustained very serioius injuries because of not having their seatbelts on when hitting CAT. But true, it isn't a crash at all, modern jets are designed to fly right through CAT without any problem at all. Except for unbelted passengers.

Hydra 2 years, 9 months ago

Sarn and here I thought passengers had to wear seatbeltd during take off and landing..

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Yes, that is required by the FAA.

optimist 2 years, 9 months ago

Are you kidding me. What kind of person doesn't see the glaring difference between the government regulating my behavior in my own vehicle and airlines requiring me to wear my seatbelt as a condition of flying on their plane. Uhhhhg...

avoice 2 years, 9 months ago

Well said. Seatbelts should be worn at all times. Adults should do this by choice, not by coercion.

funkdog1 2 years, 9 months ago

So you're fine with getting into an accident with another vehicle and inadvertantly killing another person who choses to not wear his or her seatbelt?

funkdog1 2 years, 9 months ago

That was for Optimist.

notajayhawk 2 years, 9 months ago

My car has what must be the most annoying 'reminder' chime in the world. It's very loud, and goes for about 5 seconds, stops, then repeats about every minute until you buckle the belt. Funny thing is, after buckling up, if you unbuckle while the car is still running, the chime doesn't start up again.

I like a car that says 'Oh, well, I gave it my best shot,' following this piece of classic advice from W.C. Fields: "If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then give up - there's no sense being a damned fool about it."

whatadrag 2 years, 9 months ago

VW?

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

I always wear my seatbelt, that's a for sure. The only thing that varies is, do I fasten the seatbelt before or after I start the car?

I feel really creepy without one on, because I know what it feels like to collide with a tree (young and dumb, 20 y/o on ice) and I also know what it's like to be a passenger during a highway flip and roll. I had my seat belt on both times, so I never forget it or get lazy about it, no way.

Plus I've seen the aftermath of a very, very minor 30 mph accident.

Well, it wasn't minor for the people in the car. The driver was bleeding out his mouth, unconscious, shaking like he was an epileptic in the glass he had broken with his head, and the lady in back was crying about her bad back.

None of them had their seat belt on. I'll never forget that scene.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Strange thing was - the elderly lady that had turned left in front of them, I think into her own driveway, was driving an ancient car, and wasn't hurt at all.

Pywacket 2 years, 9 months ago

Always. As does anyone who rides with me. If it becomes a habit, laziness or forgetfulness won't even enter into it--you will buckle automatically and feel extreme unease if you don't.

gccs14r 2 years, 9 months ago

I leave it buckled even when sitting at Sonic. No telling when some yahoo is going to barrel through the parking lot at 60 and smash into someone.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

gccs14r - you're not crazy! Things like that have actually happened!

avoice 2 years, 9 months ago

And yet, to anticipate such things is a pretty paranoid way to live your life.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

I don't anticipate such things, I never even notice when my seatbelt is on. The only thing I ever notice is when it's NOT on!

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

Well, here's maybe a reason behind the seat belt law:

If you kill or maim someone, and their injuries could have been prevented by the use of an unworn seat belt, your responsibility for their injuries is going to be greatly reduced, or perhaps completely eliminated.

I'm sure that is going to be brought up in court cases very, very soon.

xbusguy 2 years, 9 months ago

Now that I'm used to "wearing" a seat belt, I feel naked without it...... oops, I forgot my pants

gl0ck0wn3r 2 years, 9 months ago

I think this is a generational change. I remember they made a huge deal about it in grade school at a time when my parents - and most adults - did not wear seat belts. No doubt having children annoy one constantly about wearing a seat belt was a useful tactic because both of my parents have worn them as a habit for decades now. It is simply habit for me as well and I strongly dislike not wearing one.

However, as others have mentioned, I am generally annoyed with the notion of legislating these types of things. I understand the social benefit, but legislating like this has a very slippery slope.

avoice 2 years, 9 months ago

It is not a generational change in that the younger generation has seen more accidents and, therefore, has made a conscious decision to embrace seatbelts. It is a direct effect of the difference in psychological conditioning that has been applied to the younger generations. And it is a prime example of how effective such mental manipulation can be. With something like seatbelts, we see the positive effects of mental manipulation toward something that is beneficial. With something like the manic buy-buy-buy mentality rampant in our country, we see the negative effects of the same tactics.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

"manic buy-buy-buy"

That sure works on me with my credit card! Those bankers are GOOD at what they do!

rumor_man 2 years, 9 months ago

I only wear mine when I have an open container....so as to offset the fines.

salad 2 years, 9 months ago

Lost a young relative in 1999 because her mother never wore a seat belt and made fun of her when she tried to. Both were killed in central Kansas when they were t-boned by a pick-up. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Both would have survived the accident easily, as would princess Diana who was killed a couple weeks before, also, not wearing a seat belt. Stephanie would have been 25 this year, would have been in veteranary school. We miss her.

Paul R. Getto 2 years, 9 months ago

" It violates the spirit of the Constitution.... " Hmmmmmmmm........there is no 'constitutional' right to drive on public roads. That's why you have to get a license to do so.

The verb license or grant license means to give permission. The noun license (licence in British English) refers to that permission as well as to the document memorializing that permission.

License may be granted by a party ("licensor") to another party ("licensee") as an element of an agreement between those parties. A shorthand definition of a license is "an authorization (by the licensor) to use the licensed material (by the licensee)."

In particular a license may be issued by authorities, to allow an activity that would otherwise be forbidden. It may require paying a fee and/or proving a capability. The requirement may also serve to keep the authorities informed on a type of activity, and to give them the opportunity to set conditions and limitations.

GmaD321 2 years, 9 months ago

Started when kids were little & asked why they had to but not me. i wear one every time I drive or ride and won't start the car if others in my car won't put them on.

SouthWestKs 2 years, 9 months ago

Out here in the land of the free & home of the brave.. If you are not wearing a seatbelt when the deer jumps out of the ditch or you loose control & drop one wheel off the highway then over correct & roll the car you will most likely die.. Help is a long time away & care units are the same..

mom_of_three 2 years, 9 months ago

I wear a seatbelt 99% of the time after a dear friend was killed in an accident and wasn't wearing one. My kids are told not to ride with friends who do not have working seatbelts in their cars, too. I don't think of it as the government telling me what to do, but as prevention methods.
A couple of weeks ago, I was riding in the back seat with the kids and sitting in the middle, going about half a mile. I didn't put my seatbelt on (squished like sardines, and a pain to buckle.) My kids asked me to put it on and glared at me. Man, I taught them well.

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

You're a good Mom! I'm sure your kids will do well in life!

Ron Holzwarth 2 years, 9 months ago

I am very pleased that seat belt usage is as high as this poll states that it is. But I would much happier if it was even higher!

radiohawk 2 years, 9 months ago

1)I'm sick to death of The State trying to be my mom. 2)This law isn't about protecting the public. It's about protecting the insurance companies' bottom line. 3)I refuse to live in perpetual fear that "something might happen".

If you want to decrease your likelihood of an accident, pay attention to your driving environment and put down the !@#$% cellphone.

gccs14r 2 years, 9 months ago

It's about keeping you behind the wheel so you can hopefully avoid running into anyone else after an incident. You cannot steer when you're using the wheel to hold yourself in your seat, and at a certain force load, you can't hold yourself in the seat with your hands, anyway.