How can we have seat belt laws and motorcycles? Please read the details before responding.?

Question

I am not asking about motorcycle helmets!

Getting in an accident on a motorcycle is far worse than getting in an accident in an automobile, I think most will agree. The motorcyclists I know state that they know driving a motorcycle is dangerous.

When in a moving car, occupants are required to wear seat belts in most states. I understand why- it lowers the probability of death or serious injury in the event of a collision.

Now, if we are going to have seat belt laws, why is it legal to ride a motorcycle in the first place?

I ask because riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving an automobile without a seat belt! If it is illegal to do the latter, how can we allow the former?

And *please* do not assume you know what I support in this case. I have deliberately left my opinion out of this question in hopes that people will answer the question rather than try to argue if seat belts should be required or if motorcycles should be illegal

Answer 1

Seat-belts, on a motorcycle, could be more of a safety hazard, than a safety feature. more cyclist have been saved, by being thrown from a motorcycle, rather had they been seat-belted. in most all cases, the bike goes one direction, the cyclist, the other.

Answer 2

I don't believe the person asked about getting seatbelts on motorcycles. Rather, why we must wear seatbelts in cars when we're allowed to ride much more dangerous motorcycles.

Answer 3

Every week somebody comes up with a variation of this question. My answer is it would be more dangerous being strapped to a motorcycle with a safety belt than not being strapped to it. You're comparing apples to oranges here. A car is not a motorcycle and a motorcycle is not a car. They are two distinctly different means of transportation. Wearing safety belts in a car makes sense because serious damage can be caused by the human body striking the interior of the car. The steering wheel, the dashboard, not to mention being catapulted through the windshield. So one of the main intentions of wearing a seatbelt is to prevent the body from hitting the interior of the car upon impact. On a motorcycle, the rider is not surrounded by a steel cage and in many cases it is better for the rider to separate from the bike.

Using your logic, since in some states it is mandatory to wear a helmet when riding, shouldn't there be a helmet law for cars in those same states? I see you tried to qualify the answers you receive.

Wearing seatbelts in a car or truck has no relevance to the inherent safety or lack thereof while riding a motorcycle.

Answer 4

You don't have to wear a helmet in an automobile,yet.

Answer 5

We have motorcycles for the following reasons:

1.   People love to ride them and are willing to take the chances you mention

2.   Politicians don't have the stones to think about banning them

3.   Motorcycles can be more efficient than cars when moving one person and no goods.   Less fuel used,  less pollution

Answer 6

I ride bikes and have had some ripper crashes. Although I try and hold handlebars all the way when I can, being thrown off or having the option to release the bike can save your life as a rider.

Dont know what your supporting, but heres a question:

Horses can generate great speed and can be riden on or alone side public roads - seatbelts on horses?

Were do we stop!!!!!

Answer 7

The reason seat belt laws don't apply to motorcyclists is because they could get more seriously injured being attached to the stupid bike then being thrown from it.

When my dad was a teen he went over a truck while his motorcycle went under. He would definitely have died had he been strapped to his bike.

Answer 8

How can we have anti drug laws, and allow tobacco and liquor?

How can we have laws against murder and allow capitol punishment?

How do we survive as a species?

What is the meaning of life?

Is there an afterlife?

Answer 9

That's the glorious government at work for ya. It's aboutthe lobbyists and what they want.

We are forced to consume flouride in our water but can't make our own decisions about eating trans-fats.

Answer 10

you're g*y david! take the bus...