Persuasive Essay On Seatbelts

When an automobile is involved in a serious crash, a seatbelt is often what prevents the passengers from dying. A majority of American states have accordingly made legislation requiring drivers to buckle up or face a punishment. However, the regulation of seatbelts has become a point of controversy. Some states enforce primary seatbelt laws, which means one can be punished for not wearing a seatbelt alone. Other states use secondary seatbelt laws, which only result in punishment when the driver has neglected another regulation. The debate between primary and secondary laws has some drivers in New Jersey concerned. The state of New Jersey should continue to enforce primary seatbelt laws because they save lives, encourage citizens to buckle up and help establish better driving habits.
First of all, primary seatbelt laws help prevent fatalities in auto accidents. The state of New Jersey reported in 2015 that “the use of seatbelts saved almost 14,000 lives” in the United States(Seat/Belt). In the instance of a crash, seatbelts restrict the passengers from being launched out of their seats and keep them in a stable position. When …show more content…
Drivers who choose not to wear seatbelts are also the drivers who engage in risky behavior when behind the wheel (Higgins). By making seatbelt use mandatory, more of these drivers will start buckling up, which can lead to them making better choices about driving. Observational surveys have shown that seat belt use in fatal crashes is much lower(Higgins). This is a critical reason to why primary seatbelt laws are so important. Not only do they protect drivers, but the driving habits they help establish can help keep passengers safe in future accidents. If less drivers engaged in dangerous behavior when driving, the roads would be much safer for all drivers. Since primary seatbelt laws reduce this dangerous behavior, it’s important that we continue to enforce them in New