The big and obvious difference is that the cost of stupidity is incorporated into the insurance rates that all motorists/motorcyclists pay and as a result, smart drivers who would wear seatbelts/helmets without a mandate pay for the increased injuries and deaths of those people who are too stupid to help themselves.
If you are not wearing your seat belt, insurance only fixes half your face. Problem solved.
If you are not wearing a helmet, head injuries not covered. - Problem solved.
Individual freedom is not possible without individual responsibility!
so you are for the gov mandating seat belts as they do?
I used to belong to the cascade bicycle club and I had this argument with the president of the club. He made the argument you made. I told him that although helmets did reduce risk somewhat, that the reality was that taking bikes off the roads would DRASTICALLY reduce the risk to all the rate payers, and plenty of drivers would love to get us off the road.
i.e. I completely reject the “it lowers everybody’s rates” arguments. It is Socialist in spirit.
BTW, Bloomberg can use that same argument regarding his health laws.