Laws For The Common Good/A Matter of False Economy?!?

I first wrote this piece some time ago and then set about trying to find an easy, efficient way to share it with ALL of the main newspapers in British Columbia as a 'Letter to the Editor'. Regretably, what with the Editors (and their email addresses) changing frequently and/or their methods of accepting letters (email, contact forms, Facebook, etc) changing, I was not successful. I think that this issue is of vital importance to ALL drivers in our province and I believe that, if they knew of these 'unexpected' consequences of ignoring these laws, they might just find the motivation to change their risky (to themselves and others) behaviour.

Dear Editor,
   Although seatbelts have been compulsory in B.C. since 1977, I still see many vehicle occupants who have chosen not to wear theirs. We now also have legislation which prohibits the use of cellphone handsets while behind the wheel of something like 1,600 kilograms of moving metal. Although one would think that the significantly increased odds of surviving a crash and with markedly reduced injuries would be enough to convince any rational person to 'buckle up' and so be able to spend a much longer, healthier life with their friends and families, it obviously hasn't resonated with everyone. Talking on a cell-phone, whether hands-free or not, still significantly diminishes a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle due to their divided attention. There are fines for disobeying both laws, $167 charged to the driver for each person without their seatbelt and $167 for using a handset (+3 demerit points if texting or emailing) while driving.
   So, here's what obviously hasn't yet occurred to some of you - if you are in an accident and it can be proven that an illegal act such as not wearing a seatbelt or talking on a cellphone handset contributed to that accident and any resulting injuries, your insurance company will reduce the amount of damages payable by your percentage of culpability. For example, if your injuries are judged to be 60% your fault, you will only receive 40% of any award, which could mean a loss in the thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. How do you think it would feel to have paid a thousand dollars a year in insurance and, due to your own selfish actions, not get anywhere near the full benefit from it?

Think about it - if you aren't persuaded by the physical consequences of flaunting these laws, the financial penalty could just be more than you are prepared to risk.