Seat belt law

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alex Lamb Joselow on June 1, 2010 at 10:45am

I agree that New Hampshire is founded on independent thinking and personal freedom. However, a seatbelt law would not be the first law implemented to force safety on New Hampshire's citizens. One could argue that the minimum drinking age is along the same vein. Furthermore, in lieu of the staggering statistics concerning NH drivers' knowledge and the promised grant money, I find it hard to argue against a seat belt law.

Permalink Reply by Mike Branley on June 30, 2010 at 8:42am

Alex,

Of course a seatbelt law would not be the first act to limit independence in New Hampshire. However such a law would give police officers one more violation to look for to pull drivers over and hand out citations. I would not be adamently opposed to a secondary enforcement law (as opposed to primary enforcement, which Jamila is talking about, where you can be pulled over for the offense), however that would not even get NH the federal funds that it is currently missing out on. If I choose not to buckle my seat belt to drive two minutes down the road for a gallon of milk, driving safely and not violating any other laws, I do not see who I am hurting or why I should be pulled over and fined.

Also, what are these staggering statistics concerning NH drivers? That they wear a seat belt slightly less often than people who are required to by law? I think that statistic shows that a law is not necessary, as nearly 3/4 of adult drivers wear seat belts anyway.

Permalink Reply by Alex Lamb Joselow on June 30, 2010 at 9:16am

2010 GMAC Insurance Driver's Test Results

(Ranked in order of worst drivers by state to best drivers by state)
Scoring is from 1 to 100 on a 20 question test.

1. (WORST) New York - 70.0
2. New Jersey - 70.5
3. Dist. of Columbia - 71.9
4. California - 73.3
5. Rhode Island - 73.8
6. Louisiana - 74.1
7. West Virginia - 74.8
7. Hawaii - 74.8
9. New Hampshire - 74.9
9. Kentucky - 74.9
11. Florida - 75.2
12. Mississippi - 75.6
13. Pennsylvania - 75.8
13. Massachusetts - 75.8
15. North Carolina - 75.9
15. Arkansas - 75.9
17. Texas - 76.0
18. Connecticut - 76.3
19. Illinois - 76.6
20. Georgia - 76.7
21. Alabama - 77.1
22. South Carolina - 77.2
23. New Mexico - 77.3
24. Virginia - 77.5
24. Ohio - 77.5
26. Maine - 77.6
26. Delaware - 77.6
28. Colorado - 77.8
29. Utah- 77.9
30. Vermont - 78.1
30. Nevada - 78.1
32. Maryland - 78.2
33. Tennessee - 78.3
34. Wyoming - 78.4
35. Arizona - 78.5
36. Missouri - 78.8
37. Michigan - 79.0
38. North Dakota - 79.1
39. Oklahoma - 79.3
40. Wisconsin - 79.4
40. Washington - 79.4
42. Alaska - 79.8
43. Montana - 80.0
44. Idaho - 80.1
45. Indiana - 80.4
46. Nebraska - 80.5
47. Iowa - 80.8
48. Minnesota - 81.1
49. South Dakota - 81.2
50. Oregon - 82.1
51. (BEST) Kansas 82.3


#9 out of 50

Permalink Reply by Mike Branley on June 30, 2010 at 9:40am

Alex, those rankings are regarding the knowledge of drivers who took a written test, not how safe they drive. I am not sure that having a seatbelt law would make drivers in NH more knowledgable.