Consumers are too stupid to make good choices

[Chesspiece_face]

Hi,
You have completely missed the point. It is not whether seat belts or motorcycle helmets are a good idea that we are discussing, it is whether a law requiring their use is a good idea. Or, to phrase it differently, to what extent should the government protect us from ourselves?

--Pete

In both the case of seat belts and motorcycle helmets there is legal reasoning for the laws beyond protecting people from their own stupidity however. They are also there to protect us all from other peoples stupidity. If I am driving and hit your car (the accident being my fault) and you are not wearing your seat belt and end up dying, without the law I am the one put at fault for the death and can easily be charged with vehicular manslaughter. Despite the fact that had you been wearing your seat belt you most assuredly would have survived. With the law accountablity is put on the person not wearing their seat belt. It says "had they not been being stupid and wore their seat belt they would still be alive, thus the fault is on their shoulders."