The Associated Press is reporting that SB 7 has passed out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Utilities, and Public Policy by a vote of 10-0. The bill that would require drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts in trucks, SUVs and cars. (Currently the occupants of trucks and truck-plated SUVs are not required to wear seat belts, nor are the back seat occupants of automobiles.)
According to the article:
Bill sponsor Sen. Tom Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, said the bill would likely see opposition as it moves to the House.
“It’s not without controversy,” he told senators. “You’re going to hear from constituents talking about their freedom and liberty.”
With respect to the freedom and liberty argument, I think that horse left the barn when the legislature mandated seat belt use for cars. I don’t think there is any principled distinction for mandating the use of seat belts in cars but not trucks or SUVs. I don’t know what the data is about seat belt use saving lives for back seat passengers, so I’m willing to consider the argument that the back seat mandate is unnecessary. But, with regard to front seat passengers, I think seat belt mandates are a good idea for cars, and I don’t see any reason to continue the nonsensical exclusion of trucks and SUVs absent some showing that beltless crashes don’t pose much of a danger to occupants of trucks and SUVs.
Leave a Reply