[munchtipq]

Seat belts laws are wrong because they restrict personal behavior for no good reason. The only argument for seat belt laws is that theoretically car insurance premiums could be lowered because people will be safer while driving, leading to reduced medical costs. In fantasy land, maybe, but in reality car insurance premiums are set based on what people will accept paying. Clearly car insurance companies aren't suddenly going to reduce prices that people are used to paying because a seat belt law is enacted. It's fine to use some government money to encourage people to wear seat belts, and it's okay, in my opinion, to require auto makers to install seat belts in all cars sold in the US, but making a law to force people to wear them is a step over the line, in my opinion.

[Texas Federalist]

The only argument for seat belt laws is that theoretically car insurance premiums could be lowered because people will be safer while driving, leading to reduced medical costs.

Evidence of seatbelt use or nonuse during an accident is not admissible in court when trying a case for damages sustained as a result of an auto accident. If we changed the law to let such evidence in and absolved the insurer of the added injury caused by the failure to wear a seatbelt, it would solve the insurance cost issue while, at the same time, not trampling on the rights of drivers.

[Time is now]

May I add to that....

Skyrockets: insurance premiums, company profits
By JEFF HARRINGTON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 23, 2002

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Turns out all those hefty increases in insurance premiums aren't for naught.

They're helping to bankroll skyrocketing profits for insurance companies.

Profits at life and health insurers soared 33 percent in the first three months of 2002 compared with the year-ago quarter, according to a study by Palm Beach insurance researcher and ratings company Weiss Ratings Inc.

Some boasted triple-digit gains in net income, such as American General, up $174-million, or 854 percent. Profits at Metropolitan Life were up $177-million, or 82 percent. Nationwide Life Insurance went from an $84-million loss in the year-ago quarter to a $46-million profit.

Weiss attributed rising profits directly to rising premiums. All told, insurers nationwide posted an increase in written premiums of $6.1-billion, or 5.2 percent.

[loboinok]

I agree with you on all points.
I pretty much have to... I can not in good conscience applaud our soldiers willingness to sacrifice their lives for my freedoms and THEN, I be willing to surrender them to save a few bucks on premiums.

I'm responsible for myself and if I value myself and my family, I'll protect me.