Will someone please explain our state's law

[brer cat]

that exempts people driving trucks from wearing seatbelts? We have a car and a truck, and buckle up in whichever we are driving. What is the issue that is so important to cost us millions for highway safety, much more the lives lost and bodily damage?

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/king/stories/2008/06/12/mkinged_0612.html

[CottonBear]

1. I believe it dates from the time when trucks were mainly farm/rural work vehicles.

Of course, this is no longer the case.

[brer cat]

2. I understand driving around a big farm w/o belts

but to cost us $20 million a year in highway safety money is crazy.

[CottonBear]

3. Blame the good old boy state legislators. n/t

[NightWatcher]

4. how often would you get pulled over on your farm?

the "farm equipment" argument was always a weak one with me.

[CottonBear]

5. Farmers do drive to feed store, farm supply stores and to livestock sales and such. n/t

[ozymandius]

6. It was compromise legislation.

Joe Frank Harris was governor when the mandatory seatbelt law was passed. The only way that he would sign the bill was with a provision that allowed the rural constituency (i.e. the truck driving group) to opt out of using a seatbelt.

Of course not wearing a seatbelt, in my book, is felony stupid. But that's how stupid becomes encoded into law in some places.

[outofbounds]

7. truck/seatbelts

I was under the impression it was related to hunting. If you are bird hunting such as quail, dove as you drive down the dirt road you can scare a covey into flight for just a second the get out of the truck and put the dogs on them. It's this getting in and out so often that seat belts are in the way, and slow the process of getting at shot off.