So the state of Illinois has just passed a seat-belt law.  If you are caught without it, it's a $55.00 fine.  So where if the logic of passing a law requiring seat-belts and repealling the law requiring motorcycle helmets?  I've gone down on a bike before, and if not for a helmet, I would be a vegetable right now.  People make no sense...

I thought there was a federal seatbelt law passed like six months ago.

Hyperion, what you wrote makes absolutely no sense at all.

If you go down on a bike and you're not wearing a helmet, chances are you are going to come out of it eating through a small plastic tube.  You will most likely be a vegetable.  My wife says at the hospital where she works, they have a nickname for morons who don't wear helmets.  "Organ Donors."  Plain and simple, if you ride and don't wear a helmet, you are far more likely to be injured worse than if you're in a car with no seat belt.

Anyone who gets on a bike with no helmet is an idiot.

Well when a couple of States started calling for seatbelts on motorcycles I quit paying attention.

Yes, It has actually been considered.

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That's what I thought???

But I thought the law has been in effect for as long as I could remember, then there's that relatively 'new' "clickit or ticket" law which everyone think's is a new idea

Yes, its federal law - $77 click-it-or-ticket here.

Let's forget Politician's logic for a moment.

Without going into great detail I have been quite glad to have ALL the protection available to me on a couple of occasions. Didn't stop me from being hurt but it stopped me from being dead.

Besides,those of you that fly,do you prefer the auto style seat belts or the harness type? I know what I prefer!

its simple in my state in Australia, u must wear a helmet and a seatbelt. . . . . .

I live in South Florida and we have had the seat belt law for ages! But now they want to enforce it and stop anyone without a seat belt.

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Well we all have our own way of doing things I guess. As I told you, crash helmets have been compulsory for motorcyclists in the UK for as long as I can remember. This is strictly enforced. The way I see it, there's no point in having a law if you don't enforce it.

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To protect their heads on the way in/out of the aircraft?

One thing that bothers me is that some of the older cars (like the car I'm working on) only have lab belts-even in the front.  So, it looks like the driver isn't wearing a seatbelt from the outside of the car-since it can only be seen when someone looks directly into the interior.  I wonder if I'm gonna get pulled over (and then let go) because it looks like I'm not wearing a seatbelt.

If you are not wearing your seatbelt and you run into something solid, you immediately become a rocket-propelled grenade..... ...!
Wearing seat-belts and motor-cycle crash safety helmets is mandateory over here... 8)...!
"Klunk-Klick, every trip"...!... 8)...!
...you know it makes sense... ...!

Paul.
(England).

Agreed Fozzer, for those of you on the other side of The Pond who might doubt, or be complaining well think about this little piece of research my the British Motor Vehicle Safety chappies.
An average sized two year old in a car not wearing a belt in a head on collision at 30 mph has the same effect as a fully grown African bull elephant (something to do with physics!) when it hits the windscreen (or adult seated in-front of them).
My advice wear the belt, don't compain, and if the officer stops you, be polite and point out that you have enough brains to wear one! I'm sure the officer will be v.nice, I always found the CHiPs chappies v.polite, especially when they pulled my dad for speeding

Mark

PS. Kevin I would ALWAYS wear a lid and leathers, I was in Greece some 8 years ago and ended up in hospital with my head split open (windsurfing accident), and they brought in a German tourist who'd come off a moped wearing only shorts and flip-flops. I'm not squeamish, but I nearly puked. He died lying there on the bed next too me, there was just so much of his body missing, and he'd come off at about 20 mph. Most of his face was gone.... I could see his ribs (the skin flailed off his chest. The right arm and leg looked like bits of meet hyenas had been chewing on for a few hours. Convinced me of safety first!

Reading this thread gives me a strange feeling of deja vu. I remember the same arguments & objections when seat belts were made compulsory in the UK.
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Fortunately. common sense prevailed. A few stupid (IMHO) individuals still object to wearing them but they are in a small minority. The same applies to crash helmets for motorcycles. Sorry Foz, I still call them crash helmets.

I'm surprised to hear that anyone would think of using a lap-strap in a car. These would offer no protection at all & you might as well not bother. Our seat belts must comply with an international standard & comprise a lap-strap with a diagonal shoulder strap.

Richie. These are not compulsory for vintage cars over a certain age but any car can be fitted with an approved safety belt. This article gives the details & a brief history of seat belts in the UK.
http://www.quickfitsbs.co.uk/qsbs/2b.htm

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Pippin. I find this strange to say the least. You guys work to a different system than us. We have no regional variations for these things. Our laws cover the whole country & have to be introduced by Act of Parliament. I suppose this is similar to your Federal Law.

I wore a crash helmet or seat belt long before either was made compulsory. I wore them while on holiday in the US too. Surely it's a simple case of common sense.

to be quite honest with you, i would wear a seatbelt even if it wasnt compulsory, like many of you have said its plain stupidity not to. i only wear lap belts in the middle seat of the back, they do provide protection, but be prepared for some seriously painful ribs and stomach problems if involved in an accident.
as for bikes, again i would make sure to wear a helmet and leathers, for the exact reason posted by ozzy, generally i dont like going out on a push bike without at least jeans and a sweater, and i have seen first hand what can happen, me and friend riding down hill going 30mph, as he went by me he hit a rock, and went flying, stripped his knees and arms of a good few layers of skin and he broke his wrist and dislocated his shoulder, had he not been wearing a helmet and trousers it would have been much worse.