I'm amazed the US doesn't have mandatory seatbelt laws, but I've often noticed areas of common sense legislation which is implemented across the Western World with the exception of America due to "civil liberties".

When I grew up in the UK, we had very lax road safety laws. Our roads were relative carnage compared to today - drink driving was not only commonplace, but barely frowned upon, seatbelts weren't mandatory, indeed many cars didn't even have them fitted to the rear seats.

Over the years, the UK Government, along with most of Europe, has recognised their responsibility to reduce the number of casualties on our roads. It's taken many years to drink driving to become socially unacceptable, and I don't know anyone who would think of driving off without putting their seatbelt on. It's common sense, it saves lives, and it may save other people's lives if it stops you losing control of your vehicle after a minor incident.

The civil liberties arguement that you have the right to take risks with your own safety doesn't apply in my opinion, if you are taking that risk on the public highway with two tons of steel between you and everyone else. It's not as if wearing a seatbelt is going to be an earth-shattering change to the way you drive your car - it's common sense, it's for your own protection, and it's for the protection of those around you. What's the big deal?