Freedom of choice ?

[Doc Spock]

As we hurtle along with breathtaking speed towards a nanny state, why should I be forced to wear a seat belt in my car.
I would insist my passengers wore them as I am responsible for their safety. I am also responsible for my own safety so why has the government taken this responsibility over.

[laurence2]

Hello Red.

I would report the same thing also.

What about all these so -called dog lovers then, the amount of times i see a dogs head out of one of the side windows is unbelieveble

[Doc Spock]

I hope I have brought my children up to be sensible and as such they will behave in a way which will preserve their safety. The government has simply too much control.

[Doc Spock]

Great point lawrence, what exactly does the law say regarding dogs in vehicles. I have seen dogs sat on drivers laps. What's that about.

[laurence2]

Its not the goverment in question here, its irresponsible parents/people, everything in life revolves around safety to a degree, as Red pointed out, its the ''won't happen to me'' brigade who annoy me

I'll say it again, common sense = safety

[redcrx]

I believe dogs have to be restrained now as well.

Doc, you say that you hope that your children are sensible enought to wear a belt but what if they said to you they wont wear one? would you tell them thats OK or would you use the legislation to help you emphasise how important it is to wear one?

[laurence2]

I don't own a dog Mr Spock.

So my apologies for not knowing the answer, tho i suspect people who have 4-wheel drives have them in the boot area with the area being caged off

Ps, are the owners of a dog liable to a fine if the dogs are not secured in?

[Doc Spock]

Hi red, I say it is up to them. Why do we constantly have to be told it is dangerous to drag a razor blade across our throats. Surely we can make the decision ourselves not to do it.
Legislation is supposed to represent the will of the people, does it, don't think so. .Knee jerk reaction a lot of it, like the gun law after Dunblane.
That did not work.

[redcrx]

most people can make such decisions, but as i said there are those that dont.

[annie0000]

I think in general, the reason that these laws are here are to protect the idiots and the innocent. I agree that we shouldn't have to be told what to do, but for some people, they just aren't capable of making that decision for themselves. Apart from that, having loads of people flying through their windscreens willy nilly would mess up our safety stats and we can't have that can we?

[Doc Spock]

This is of course tongue in cheek, just a bit of light hearted humour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qem7NUThzqc

[Octavius]

Laws are there to protect the people of the land, not just you. Saying that the Govmt is taking away your responsibility is like saying that the Govmt should not make and maintain laws against thuggery, murder, rape or violence, because (to quote you �you are responsible for your own safety�. In such circumstances you would probably stay at home and gripe about what the Govmt isn�t doing. So if this piece of legislation is such a hardship for you to accept, then simply don�t exercise your given right to drive.

I agree with Cockney Si, this question is imbecilic.
http://www.thinkseatbelts.com/

[Doc Spock]

Once again octavious you have missed the point, imbecilic, maybe you are.

[Doc Spock]

Ask a decent sensible question to provoke response and you get abuse.

[Octavius]

Well you are taking advantage of laws that allow you to drive, but bemoan the fact that the law also requires you to do it safely.

This question is like a broken pencil.

[Doc Spock]

so octavious you are quite happy for the govt. to take total control of your life.

[Doc Spock]

please explain broken pencil?

[Doc Spock]

hi pau-ul, well, where do we go from here, was the govt, thinking about my and everbody else's safety when they took britain into Iraq. Do we have to go along with everything or just the ones that appeal.

[Octavius]

I wouldn�t consider the legal requirement to wear a seatbelt whilst driving �having total control of my life�. Perhaps the protection of life, or the prevention of death. Not total control, since driving is a freedom of choice and not compulsory. The issue of passenger seatbelts is not mentioned in your original Q.

The system of Govmt that we have in the UK is that national (and international) decisions are made on our behalf by our elected representatives. If you have a particular concern this should be raised with your local MP to take to the House, or you could always petition No.10.

Broken pencil: pointless