On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:42:58 -0700, rw
wrote:

I'm against (mildly) laws that mandate personal safety, like helmet and
seat-belt laws, but I'm in favor of laws that mandate public safety.

If you are in favor of laws that mandate the public safety, then you
have to be for seatbelt laws. I not only use a seatbelt to save my
life, but also to prevent an accident. In an emergency move, it is
*very* important that the driver stay *behind* the wheel, not sliding
left or right. It used to be demonstrated with students at the school
I used to teach. In most situations, they lost control of the car
without a seatbelt.

The same school convinced lawmakers from the State of Vermont to
mandate seat belts when they were given the chance to witness what
happens when they are not buckled up.

Dave