Hypothesis: Eliminating seatbelts from automobiles would reduce the number of auto accidents more than eliminating the law requiring drivers to wear a seatbelt while in the vehicle since drivers will become more cautious behind the wheel.

1. https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1564465,00.html

Background: Seatbelts could encourage some individuals to take risks. “Do seatbelts really protect us and keep us out of danger?” A risk expert named John Adams from the University College of London found that mandating seatbelts in 18 countries resulted in either no change or a net increase in accident deaths. He determined that this data was due to the risk factor meaning individuals will tend to be daring and drive a bit more recklessly when wearing the protective shield, the seatbelt. Therefore, a driver who feels safer due to a seatbelt being worn, will consequently increase their driving risk factor.

How I Intend to Use It: In this article, Adams discusses risk and the level one might go to when feeling protected by some outside source, such as a seatbelt. Here, I could use Adams’ information and statistics to help support my thesis on eliminating seatbelts from automobiles.

2. https://medium.com/@dossy/do-seat-belts-really-save-lives-74f4c0b79444

Background: In this article “Do Seatbelts Really Save Lives?” Shiobara suggests that “seatbelts don’t save lives, they just make the bodies easier to find.” The article also includes a graph illustrating motor vehicle deaths in the United States that Shiobara concluded. The graph does not show that wearing a seatbelt prevented death or injury. It showed fluctuation and inconsistency and not a representation of what one would expect, being that seatbelts prevented death and injury. Even more in this article, it was said that 47% of people not wearing seatbelts and 53% of people wearing seatbelts died in car accidents. The question here to ponder would be what other factors, besides the seatbelt, are aiding in protecting the driver from auto accidents, injury, and even death? Could it possibly be a better, more advanced technological vehicle that is designed to drive, park, and steer itself?

How I Intend to Use It: This article could help to support my thesis because it provides data, a visual graph, and evidence that a seatbelt might not be the sole answer to keeping its driver protected. This data and information will help support my claim about eliminating seatbelts since almost the same amount of people died with or without a seatbelt.

3. https://www.trantololaw.com/law-firm-blog/car-accidents/refuse-seat-belts/

Background: This article discusses the idea that seatbelts could prevent passengers from escaping the vehicle in an event of a fire or water disaster, causing injury or even death to one or more of the vehicle’s passengers. In addition, it explains how seatbelts could cause bodily harm such as broken bones, damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, collapsed lung, traumatic brain injury, damage to the chest, neck, abdomen, or whiplash.

How I Intend to Use It: Since this article suggests a portion of non-wearing of a seatbelt to possibly being harmful, it could help to provide some evidence supporting my overall thesis. This article could be beneficial with providing reasons why a driver or passenger should not have to wear a seatbelt.

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470262/

Background: Seatbelt syndrome or injuries caused by a seatbelt range from bruising to abdominal injuries and vertebral fractures. In 1973, the three point harness which covers the shoulders, chest, and abdomen, took place of the lap belt. Due to the placement of the harness, an impact could put extreme force on an individual’s neck, chest, or abdomen. These seatbelt related injuries are usually around one’s neck, chest, or abdomen and could be quite severe. Injuries can also occur in the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys. Seatbelts can impact the neck region including cervical spine, vascular injury, or clavicle fractures. In addition, thoracic injuries due to the force of a seatbelt could encompass internal fracture, rib fractures, pulmonary contusion, and even myocardial contusion.

How I Intend to Use It: This article can help support my thesis of why seatbelts could be eliminated from automobiles since so many injuries occur to individuals while wearing a seatbelt. I could talk about the progression of the seatbelt and the timeline of the seatbelt. I will also include the various injuries that can occur while wearing a seatbelt in an automobile while driving the vehicle.

5. https://www.thelemonlawyer.com/seat-belt-problems

Background: There are a number of defects and malfunctions in the seatbelt system which could leave its passengers unprotected and in harm’s way in an accident. Some seatbelt problems could be a defective buckle, old, worn-out buckles, manufacturing defects, and faulty designs. If these defects or problems occur, a passenger could be thrown against the interior of the vehicle causing serious injury or even death. Vehicle recalls, such as faulty parts, design defects, or problems with the actual seatbelt itself could result in not holding the passenger in their seat and causing serious injury to them.

How I Intend to Use It: This article could be utilized to support my thesis because it provides evidence that seatbelts are installed with defects which could put the driver and passenger in extreme danger.