Nevada Seeks Tougher Seat Belt Law So Be Sure to Buckle Up!
The Nevada Department of Transportation is hoping to ramp up its seat belt restrictions next year. NDOT director Rudy Malfabon will ask the 2012 legislature to enact a primary seat belt law. Right now, Nevada officers can only cite drivers for not wearing a seat belt if they are pulled over for another violation. This request comes as a result of increased traffic fatalities. Malfabon believes that with better seat belt laws, it may help curb the deaths the state has experienced. In one county alone, accidents have increased 54% since last year. If Nevada passes a seat belt law and makes it a primary offense, they will join 32 other states and D.C. in enacting the primary offense law. In the remaining states, minus New Hampshire, not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense and can still incur fees.
New Hampshire remains the sole state without seat belt laws and some residents are proud of this fact, even large agencies. The argument is based upon the idea that civil liberties are being encroached upon when the government tells you to buckle up. By creating these laws that violate freedom, it costs the taxpayers more money. The Foundation for Economic Freedom argues that wearing a seat belt can be more dangerous. You may have heard stories about how someone was killed because of their seatbelt. This might be true in a few rare cases but the majority are urban myths. But the facts of seat belt usage and the safety it provides is undeniable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that close to 72,000 lives were saved by seat belts between the period of 2005 and 2009.
The Purpose of the Seat Belt
The most important safety feature: the seat belt
A seat belt is one of the most important safety features on your car today. Its main purpose is to act as a restraint in the case of a serious accident. Even traveling at low speeds, a collision can have an intense effect on the human body. Consider Newton’s laws of motion. In the first tenant, it is basically stated that an object at rest will stay at rest unless another force acts upon it. As in, I will sit here on the couch for the rest of the night, at least until I (the object) have to go to the bathroom (the other force). The second premise of this states that an object in motion will not change its trajectory unless a force acts upon it. This means that if you are traveling down the road at 40 mph and your car runs into a telephone pole, while your car has stopped, your body still has a trajectory of 40 mph. If you are not wearing a seat belt which can act as an outside force to stop your body, it is likely your body will be expelled from the vehicle.
The Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles recently stated that for every 1 percent increase in safety belt use, 172 lives and close to $100 million in annual injury and death costs are avoided. The next time you are trying to decide whether to wear a seat belt or not, be aware that you are potentially making a life or death decision. In addition to protecting yourself and making sure your passengers are protected, a seat belt can have other positive effects on your driving habit. A seat belt can place the driver’s body in an ideal position, making it easier to focus on the task at hand, driving. While you may be the safest driver in the world, you cannot always control the actions of others. A seatbelt allows the driver to have better control of the car. If you suddenly have to slam on brakes to avoid an accident or react to another situation, a seat belt will make sure you are properly secured and ready to move on to your destination.
Seat Belt Laws and Your Insurance
If you can get a ticket for it, it is likely your insurance will increase. As we mentioned before, 32 states have primary offense seat belt driving laws. This means you can get pulled over and receive a ticket for not wearing your seat belt. The second kind of seat belt is considered a secondary offense. If someone gets pulled over for a separate violation, the officer on hand can also give them a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. In some states, even passengers are required to wear a seat belt and in all 50 states, children are required to be properly restrained. The age at which a child can be covered by a seat belt law is
determined by the specific state. The fines for violating a child restraint law can vary dramatically so it is important to check with your state to find out the specifics pertaining to your situation.
If you get a ticket for not wearing your seat belt, your insurance can charge you a higher fee. This is especially true if you get multiple violations at once or violate a child restraint law. Insurance companies use a variety of factors when determining how much a driver should pay in premium costs. One of these determining factors is driving record. If you accumulate a poor driving record, know that your insurance company routinely reviews your coverage. Not wearing a seat belt and disobeying the law is considered high risk behavior and the insurance company can see you as a liability. On the other hand, if you continually practice safe driving skills, you can see a reduction in your premium over years.
Be sure to review your state’s laws to obtain the best information on how to restrain yourself and others in your car. In the case of an accident, wearing a seat belt may be the best decision you make. Insist others wear a seat belt when riding with you. It’s not that hard to buckle up.
