SEAT BELTS ARE GOOD IDEA, BUT PROPOSED LAW GOES TOO FAR

Efforts in the Missouri General Assembly to give police the authority to stop and ticket motorists who aren't wearing seat belts go too far. Opponents are right to worry about the reach of government control in our daily lives. The state would serve its residents better by educating them rather than spending tax dollars to chase them down and penalize them for choosing not to wear a seat belt.

Using a seat belt makes good sense. It has been proven time after time that seat belts save lives. Occasionally, opponents of any seat-belt requirements throw up instances in which seat belts have hindered in rescue operations or otherwise had a negative effect. But these cases are far outweighed by the lives that have been saved and by the reduction in injuries thanks to seat-belt usage.

It already is a law in Missouri, like many other states, that seat belts are to be used by motorists. However, police are specifically restrained from stopping motorists just for not wearing a seat belt. Tickets are issues only when a motorist is stopped for some other violation.

It would be nice to think that motorists have been convinced by now that wearing seat belts is a good idea. In fact, statistics in Missouri show fairly responsible use of the safety devices. Recent figures for Southeast Missouri showed that, by far, most motorists regularly use seat belts. Cape Girardeau County has one of the highest percentages of usage in the state.

In spite of the overwhelming evidence, some motorists still choose not to wear seat belts. This is a personal choice in which a motorist places himself at greater risk of injury or death. Government's efforts to force motorists to use seat belts through penalties is an unnecessary intrusion. Drivers who are properly informed and educated are far more likely to choose to be safe.

Included in proposed legislation to permit police to stop and ticket motorists without seat belts are new regulations regarding passengers in the open beds of pickups. Again, a common-sense regard for the lives of those passengers is more important than new laws.

And there is some disparity in the bill when lawmakers consider regulating who rides in the back of a pickup -- a vehicle that isn't required to have seat belts for motorists behind the wheel.