I work with a woman who is the biggest progressive I know . . . with once exception. She's fiercely opposed to wearing a seatbelt because she doesn't like the govt telling her what to do. Funny . . . since she's fine with the govt telling her everything else.

I've always just seen it as a self preservation thing. I used to drive without buckling up. Did it through HS and part of college. Was driving home one weekend from Ft. Collins and hit black ice . . . spun out at a pretty high rate of speed, managed to not kill myself. Decided that second that it was the last time I would ever drive without wearing my belt. Simple safety thing, IMHO, just like the rules for handling a firearm.