Live Free, and Maybe Die When You're Hurled Through the Windshield

Jacob Sullum | June 4, 2007

Last week the New Hampshire legislature once again rejected a law requiring people to wear seat belts. New Hampshire is the only state that has not passed a seat belt law, preferring to forgo the federal funds that reward such legislation. A state senator who voted against the bill explains:

The citizens of New Hampshire don't like to be told by anyone else what to do. It preserves New Hampshire's way of not succumbing to the bribes of the federal government and New Hampshire's belief that every adult can make his or her own choices in life.

In November 2005 issue of reason, I examined the reasons why seat belt laws are much more widespread in the U.S. than motorcycle helmet laws.