webhannet
Southern Coastal Maine
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Joined: 08/09/2004
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Seatbelts... helmets... babyseats!
If people deliberately CHOOSE to not protect themselves, society shouldn't have to contribute to their medical care and the maintenance of their survivors. If more people understood the suffering they create by choosing to not use all "reasonable man" safety options - they'd use them!
No, I don't seriously want ANY of these people to suffer - but "society" shouldn't pay for their disregard.
RV dealers who sell or service RV's that are improperly equipped should be liable for the products and services they offer. Bartenders are liable for improperly serving alcohol - RV places should require "work" leaving their premises to be road-ready. Tractor trailers are subject to roadside inspection - so should RV's. If something is "on the road" and likely to "break loose" and kill people - it should be regulated and routinely inspected.
Since I'm already elevated-high on my soapbox... "police" almost NEVER pull-over RV's! There's danger and liability in dragging one to the side of the road, so police rarely do it. A weaving, speeding RV is pretty easy to spot - but they tend to look the other way. That's wrong!
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Rob_NC
Walnut Cove, NC
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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SCaviator wrote:It is one thing to not where a seatbelt because it is your choice. It is another thing to deprive your family of their husband and father because you were too stupid to wear a simple safety device. Note that I am not calling for laws for seatbelts and better hitches...that's personal choice, and I am glad that no one else was injured...
He should have worn his seatbelt, towed with a better hitch setup, and slowed down. The first would have more than likely saved his life, and the other two would have prevented this accident from occuring. We all bear the same or similar responsibilities when we tow a TT or drive a moterhome or whatever...
Seatbelt use could be a personal choice, but the use of a proper hitch setup shouldn't be. The fact that an improper setup could jeapardize the TV occupant's lives as well as those motorists surrounding them is just cause for a mandate. Just as someone mentioned earlier, commercial vehicles are governed by strict DOT laws, so should anything that tows another vehicle. It's no different than driving while impaired.
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Rob_NC
Walnut Cove, NC
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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webhannet wrote:Seatbelts... helmets... babyseats!
If people deliberately CHOOSE to not protect themselves, society shouldn't have to contribute to their medical care and the maintenance of their survivors. If more people understood the suffering they create by choosing to not use all "reasonable man" safety options - they'd use them!
No, I don't seriously want ANY of these people to suffer - but "society" shouldn't pay for their disregard.
RV dealers who sell or service RV's that are improperly equipped should be liable for the products and services they offer. Bartenders are liable for improperly serving alcohol - RV places should require "work" leaving their premises to be road-ready. Tractor trailers are subject to roadside inspection - so should RV's. If something is "on the road" and likely to "break loose" and kill people - it should be regulated and routinely inspected.
Since I'm already elevated-high on my soapbox... "police" almost NEVER pull-over RV's! There's danger and liability in dragging one to the side of the road, so police rarely do it. A weaving, speeding RV is pretty easy to spot - but they tend to look the other way. That's wrong!
Right on!
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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Joined: 05/05/2005
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needgas$$ wrote:What does not wearing a seat belt have to do with the cause of an accident? Granted he probably would have lived if wearing one. which is sad and I feel for his family, but it's not right to put down someone for their personal choice. This is what America is all about personal choice.
When society has to pay tons of money for the medical care and support of folks that get themselves seriously hurt and killed because they didn't wear their seatbelt, it's no longer about personal choice. I have the right to have a say in how our taxes are spent, and the collective voice (the law) says buckle up--it not your choice anymore.
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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Rob_NC wrote:webhannet wrote:Seatbelts... helmets... babyseats!
If people deliberately CHOOSE to not protect themselves, society shouldn't have to contribute to their medical care and the maintenance of their survivors. If more people understood the suffering they create by choosing to not use all "reasonable man" safety options - they'd use them!
No, I don't seriously want ANY of these people to suffer - but "society" shouldn't pay for their disregard.
RV dealers who sell or service RV's that are improperly equipped should be liable for the products and services they offer. Bartenders are liable for improperly serving alcohol - RV places should require "work" leaving their premises to be road-ready. Tractor trailers are subject to roadside inspection - so should RV's. If something is "on the road" and likely to "break loose" and kill people - it should be regulated and routinely inspected.
Since I'm already elevated-high on my soapbox... "police" almost NEVER pull-over RV's! There's danger and liability in dragging one to the side of the road, so police rarely do it. A weaving, speeding RV is pretty easy to spot - but they tend to look the other way. That's wrong!
Right on!
Ditto!
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Mike Schriber
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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A really sad story. As soon as I started reading the details my first thought was that the fatality wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
I feel sorry for the family but not for the driver. Not wearing a seatbelt is just so stupid.
Too bad he didn't think about his family before himself.
Yes, it's harsh but wearing a seatbelt isn't rocket science and everyone should know better.
Mike
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4campnuts
Southern NH
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Joined: 05/23/2005
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Very sad story 
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RandACampin
Kathleen, Georgia
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Joined: 04/06/2006
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webhannet wrote:Seatbelts... helmets... babyseats!
If people deliberately CHOOSE to not protect themselves, society shouldn't have to contribute to their medical care and the maintenance of their survivors. If more people understood the suffering they create by choosing to not use all "reasonable man" safety options - they'd use them!
No, I don't seriously want ANY of these people to suffer - but "society" shouldn't pay for their disregard.
RV dealers who sell or service RV's that are improperly equipped should be liable for the products and services they offer. Bartenders are liable for improperly serving alcohol - RV places should require "work" leaving their premises to be road-ready. Tractor trailers are subject to roadside inspection - so should RV's. If something is "on the road" and likely to "break loose" and kill people - it should be regulated and routinely inspected.
Since I'm already elevated-high on my soapbox... "police" almost NEVER pull-over RV's! There's danger and liability in dragging one to the side of the road, so police rarely do it. A weaving, speeding RV is pretty easy to spot - but they tend to look the other way. That's wrong!
Wrong! People need to take responsibility for thier own actions and thier own rigs. I for one am sick and tired of everyone being a victim in this country. Lets blame the dealer for something that should have been your responsibility, dealer gets sued, rv prices go up. A viscious circle. Whaaaaaaa, the dealer didnt tell me I needed XXXX. The dealers responsibility is sell you what you want, he has no liability in the situation. BTW I think bartenders being liable is just as stupid. Another example of this countries citizens refusing to responsibilty. man up or stay off the road. TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS.
Now I can get off my sopabox.
-rog
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dyb
s.c.
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Joined: 01/24/2005
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Big """" RandAcampin
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alaskasafari
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Joined: 08/09/2007
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I agree that's a pretty sad story... It's a shame anyone has to lose their life in such an accident. It was his choice not to wear a seat belt and he and his family are now paying the price.
As for making the RV dealers liable for any incorrect hitch setup... that's waaaay out of line, in my opinion. The dealer is there to sell a product. What anyone does with their setup is their choice. Who knows, the guy may have told the dealer he was having X put on a WDH and sway control... If you don't take the time to learn how to safely operate something and you get hurt, then there's no one to blame... if you fail to learn how to safely operate something and someone else is hurt, they should throw the book at you. That's my .02 worth anyway.
At the end of the day it's a tragedy no matter how you slice it. There's a family without a father and husband. The only bright spot in this is that perhaps, just perhaps, someone reading this (or the news story) will remember to buckle their seatbelt and learn how to safely tow a trailer (or operate an RV).
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