There is a new nation wide law that says you will get a ticket if you don't have your seatbelt fastened. Not news to me, that was a law in Illinois when I was in highschool, so I'm used to it. That was also a time when I wore my seat belt. Now, I don't. I am not against seat belts, I just don't really think of putting it on when I get in the car. I just hop in and go. Simple enough. Now you'd think that a law like "click it or ticket" would benefit someone like me who needs greater encouragement to be reminded to put on my seat belt, but as I see it, this law will actually cause more deaths than save lives. To the person who already puts on their seat belt, good for you, and this law really doesn't change anything for you does it? Well, that's fine. For me, it puts me in grave danger. Now, understand this is coming from someone who doesn't wear a seat belt, so don't get mad if you are a s.b. wearer and can't understand my thinking...if you could, you probably would also be a non-s.b. wearer. Here goes.
I don't really care that there's a new law. I don't not wear my s.b. because it used to be optional, I don't wear it because I am forgetful. A new law will not really help my forgetfulness...at least until I get caught or get in a wreck. But I am very aware of the new law whenever a police car is present. So what is the first response a non-s.b wearer has when he/she sees a cop...quickly and gracefully put on the s.b. The problem is that there is no graceful way to put on a s.b. So you fumble around, look the wrong way, take your hand(s) off the steering wheel and so on and so forth. These things are all okay if you are at a complete stop. However, if you are driving, putting on a seat belt (among other things) can really mess up your driving skills. I am cruising along at 40 mph and I see a cop and the first thing I do, rain or shine, snow or sleet, straight roads or curvy, is put on my seat belt. It is very possible that during the mess of putting on the s.b. i could swerve into another lane, or run a light, or whatever. So now, when I drive, I occasionally have these fits of extremely dangerous driving making the new law hazardous to me and the rest of the drivers around me. Really, this isn't that far of a stretch. I am a pretty good driver, but nobody is good at fumbling around in the car and giving full attention to the road, so please mr. law man, take away this law for the sake of our lives. I'd hate to be hit by a car b/c the other person was frantically putting on his s.b. after seeing a police officer. Have a good week.
