A hearty endorsement to my colleague David’s pro-freedom editorialrejecting the Globe’s proposed prohibition on cell phone use whiledriving.
As readers Stomv and Ken point out in the Comments thread to David’s post, wealready have laws against reckless driving. Those should be enforced nomatter whether the person is talking to their astrologer on a cellphone or their two year old in a car seat.
While we are at it, I should note my opposition to the similarlyillogical nanny-state requirements that limit drinking to those 21 andolder, require everyone to wear seat belts, and impose a blanketprohibition on smoking in restaurants and bars.
All these measures put the public policy cart before theregulatory horse. The seat belt law is justified as a way to control autoinsurance rates and health care costs. I say: reform the insurance industry and our health care system if necessary, but let drivers choose when best to belt.
The drinking age is touted as a way to reduce drunk driving. I say:enforce the drunk driving laws and let the 18 year old soldier on leavefrom Iraq have a Bud Light at Fenway.
The smoking ban is touted as a public health measure. I say: limitsmoking to selected establishments and let customers and employees decidewhat is best for their personal well being.
The truth is the general welfare is only an incidental concernof these lifestyle management regulations. The real purpose, it appears, is toforce individuals to behave as others think best: peoplewho talk on cell phones are inconsiderate; those who do not wear seat belts foolish; 18 year old drinkers areirresponsible; smokers are self-destructive.
The Globe and Representative J. James Marzilli Jr. of Arlington should spend less timetelling people how to live their lives and more time advocating solutions that directly advance the noble goals, like traffic safety, they profess.
One more thing:Legalize pot and stop the “War on Drugs”. Pot’s less harmful than both tobacco and alcohol. And treating drug use in general as a criminal problem isn’t working.
Actually, there is a public safety argument to seat belt laws. Seat belts can actually prevent accidents, not just reduce injuries during an accident. Imagine a person swerving to avoid a squirrel – that person isn’t wearing a seatbelt, and the sharp turn causes them to slide across the seat. They lose control of the car, and then cause an accident. Perhaps rare, but seatbelts do help keep drivers safely positioned behind the wheel, hence reducing the chances of someone losing control of their car and injuring someone else.The one law that doesn’t affect anyone else (other than via insurance costs) is a motorcycle helmet law. As a motorcycle driver who always wears a helmet, I’m happy to see anyone choose not to wear one, as long as they accept the consequences and pay for any medical costs that could have been prevented. I believe there should be impled consent by anyone not wearing a helmet – the will pay the costs, not their insurance company. I’m more than happy to let anyone else make stupid choices in life as long as I don’t get hurt or have to pay more for their actions. I do believe I am harmed by second hand smoke. I do believe I am facing greater danger if people aren’t wearing their seatbelts (to me not wearing a seatbelt also implies a lack of personal regard which could lead to more careless driving and a greater risk to my safety). I also believe that the driving age should actually be increased – I was damn lucky for the first couple of years I had my license, and I took an advanced driving course at age 18 that should be mandatory for everyone. It wasn’t until then I really understood the physics of driving.Ultimately, I’m a libertarian until we leave our homes, then all bets are off. Once I leave my house I’m just trying to avoid being killed by Dennis Leary driving a Buick convertable on the sidewalk while smoking a carton of butts, yaking on the phone, eating a big mac and washing it down with a scalding coffee, all while not wearing a seatbelt, or sunblock.
And, my personal favorite: people who drive with their pet poodle in their laps.What’s that about???