Not everyone believes the use of seat belts should be mandatory. Should not wearing a seat belt be illegal? Write a persuasive essay stating your opinion on the use of seat belts and whether or not wearing a seat belt should be illegal in all parts of the world.
How seatbelts save lives.
Car accidents happen every minute of every day. There are over 5.25 million car accidents per year in the United States. Over 43,000 of those accidents end in fatality due to people not wearing a seatbelt. Many people believe that wearing a seatbelt is important because, it is the law, it can save your life, and it can reduce the chance of other serious injuries. “On average, hospital care costs for an unbelted crash victim are 50% higher than those for a belted crash victim,” stated the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTA). According to, Michigan State Police the number one excuse for not wearing a seatbelt is “seat belts are uncomfortable.” Even though the use of a seatbelt may be discomforting it is always better to be cautious than risk serious injuries or even death. According to the NHTA, research has proven that seatbelts, when worn properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to passengers in the vehicle by 45% and cuts the risk of injury by 50%. In May 2008, a 5th grade boy named Zachary Missik lost his life in a fatal car accident. As the two cars collided, Zachary flew out the windshield, due to him not wearing a seat belt. Zachary’s death has impacted several school age children, his community, and most importantly his friends and family. I have come to the conclusion that if he were to have worn his seatbelt maybe his life would have been spared. In America, 49 states except for New Hampshire, have made it the law to wear a seatbelt at all times while in a motor vehicle. “Click it or ticket” is the campaign slogan for wearing a seat belt. If you are caught not wearing a seatbelt you may receive a ticket that can range from $10 to $250