"Click-It or Ticket" -- Irrational, Wasteful, Abusive Campaign that Overlooks Real Traffic Violations

The present law enforcement campaign of "click-it or ticket" --i.e. "or we'll kick your tail pipe (implies the tough-guy image through commercials)"--shows the stupidity of present government. What is the taxpayers cost of this wasteful, irrational, and intrusive (stop, detain, search without probable cause) State Police campaign? The only ones that truly benefit from this campaign are THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO WANT TO LIMIT THEIR MEDICAL AND DEATH CLAIMS! Indeed, it was insurance companies that coerced this law, and that by false promises of lower premiums that West Virginians never collected on. Is this really for the public good?

That lack of seat belts never are the cause of accidents is common sense, and therefore no one is endangered but the foolish vehicle operator who choses not to use them. So what? How does that hurt anyone else on the road? Is this therefore the most needful campaign to spend millions of dollars of taxpayers money on in advertising campaigns? The ads are so tyrannical in nature, threatening officers "will be all over....maybe in your rear view mirror" (translation: be very afraid of us, the Seat Belt Police), that it makes even those who wear them want to break out in open rebellion against such an arrogance of government presuming to tell people what they do in their car. This writer was stopped at a "check-point" for the sole purpose of checking for seat belts--without probable cause of any violations, without warrant! HAVE THE COPS NOTHING BETTER TO DO?

Instead, the true cause of accidents is documented by legal experts: As one can see, it is not only the driver who may be at fault, but also the government, through lack of reasonable road maintenance or safety procedures during construction, etc.. But there is a wide variety of causes, including weather and deer!.

Causes of Car Accidents

There are a wide variety of possible causes for automobile accidents, including:

Driver Error - The most common cause of car accidents is driver error. Common errors which contribute to accidents include failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, driving at excessive speeds, unsafe passing, and disregard of traffic control devices.

Distractions - When the driver's attention becomes diverted from the road, the chances of an accident increase. Distractions may occur from outside of the car, such as when something at the side of the road draws a driver's attention. Distractions also occur inside cars, such as where the driver attempts to read or put on makeup while driving, change CD's in the CD player, dials a cellular phone, or attempts to parent an upset or unruly child.

Intoxication - Motorists whose ability to drive is impaired as a result of the consumption of alcohol or drugs are more likely to cause car accidents.

Bad Weather - Sometimes, bad weather conditions will contribute to an accident by interfering with visibility, diminishing traction on the road surface, or otherwise making it more difficult to drive a car. A driver should take the effects of the weather, such as strong cross-winds or slippery roads, into consideration when driving. Sometimes the weather will cause an unexpected hazard, such as black ice or flash flooding, which may not be detected by a driver until it is too late to avoid the hazard.

Road Design - A poorly designed roadway, intersection, or means of controlling traffic can at times cause or contribute to an accident. Poorly placed and poorly designed road signs or barriers can cause unnecessary injury when vehicles collide with them. At times, such defects will result in liability by the governmental agency responsible for the design and maintenance of the roadway, although governmental immunity may apply.

Road Conditions - The conditions of a roadway can be bad for a number of reasons, including weather, poor design or maintenance, or the presence of objects or debris on the roadway. Such factors can cause or contribute to accidents.

Vehicle Defects - At times an accident will result from a defect with a driver's vehicle, such as a tire blowout, brake failure, or other mechanical failure. Sometimes the injuries suffered in an accident will be made worse by a design or manufacturing defect with a vehicle, such as a design defect which makes an SUV more susceptible to rolling over in an accident or a gas tank more likely to ignite in a collision, or a manufacturing defect which causes a seatbelt to fail or an airbag to deploy improperly.

Most law enforcement, however, should be focussed on DRIVING VIOLATIONS, not wearing of seat belts. But most officers ticket for ONLY SPEEDING. WHY?

Lack of seat belts never led to an accident, but failure to signal, reckless driving, following too close, and failure to yield are the direct cause of injuries and fatalities to others. These are the violations that should be ticketed instead of playing Big Brother while overlooking these illegal and dangerous acts that jeapordize public safety. Enforcing these REAL VIOLATIONS would lead to safer roads!

Watch this expose' of how people really drive, and how the auto industry encourages people to drive, in total fantasy. THIS IS THE CAUSE OF TRAFFIC DEATHS--NOT LACK OF SEAT BELTS! Increasing safety apparatus actually only encourages WORSE driving, giving a false impression of safety despite reckless and irrational driving.