Isn t it my personal right to choose to buckle up or not?
All traffic laws impose some limitation of choice on individuals. It is important to remember that driving is not a “right,” but a privilege, granted and controlled by the State of Tennessee. Citizens often accept the legitimacy of traffic laws because it is apparent to them that failure to obey the law could result in harm to the motorist or others. Opponents of the seatbelt law often claim that no one else would be hurt if they do not use seat belts. This is not true. Unrestrained occupants often injure others in crashes, and unbelted drivers have less control during a crash, often increasing the severity. Increased injuries result in increased costs to all Tennessee citizens.
