I spent most of my working life dealing with the aftermath of vehicle accidents. The vast majority of fatalities where people were not wearing seatbelts were completely avoidable, especially women and children. Getting killed because a person wasn't wearing a seatbelt is not the worst thing that can happen. Every kind of grotesque injury imaginable happens on a fairly regular basis because someone was not wearing a seatbelt, or not wearing it correctly.
That being said I will agree I do not like being told I have to do anything, like wear a seat belt or helmet, by the government. However, I do think if someone choses to not wear a seat belt or helmet, choses to smoke, choses to drink and drive, or engage in any inherently dangerous or irresponsible activity they should not be able then have the tax payers pay for their medical bills. If they have their own insurance and that company wants to pay that's fine, however they should not be able to have the tax payers pick up the tab, or even declare bankruptcy to avoid paying, because of their own decision.
My apologies to the MPT Gods and Overlords.
