Good government is a constant battle to keep people safe without stepping on personal freedom.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates automotive deaths decreased by 45% to 65% because of seat belt use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention credits helmets for reducing motorcycle deaths by up to 41% and head injury by about 70%. The National Fire Protection Association says a smoke alarm cuts risk of a home fire fatality by 60%.

All of these are pretty easy steps. They don’t cost much to implement, especially considering the often-catastrophic consequences.

That attempt to find an ounce of prevention against the gross tonnage of tragedy is behind action being considered in O’Hara.

Council next week will consider whether to require Knox Boxes at commercial, industrial or multifamily buildings.

A Knox Box refers to a specific brand of lock box containing keys, cards or access information to enter a facility. Having that ability makes it quicker and easier to gain entrance in an emergency.

In a fire or other incident, faster can be the difference between life and death. Easier can mean avoiding costly repairs that often come when first responders have to break windows or crash through doors.

The boxes are being seen increasingly in communities. Sometimes it is a mandate. Sometimes it is a voluntary step by property owners seeking to mitigate risks from an emergency and the response.

But there are people who have concerns. A business may deal with sensitive information it is required to keep confidential. An industrial location may have data or equipment to protect. A landlord may have valid concerns about the liability of risking entry to tenants’ apartments should someone gain access to keys.

With that in mind, O’Hara is proactive in providing a way for a property owner to request a waiver. This offers safety and counsels participation but still acknowledges the rights and autonomy of the owner.

That balance isn’t theoretical. It’s intentional.

Seat belts, helmets and smoke alarms have made a huge difference in people’s lives — saving some and sparing others from being left to grieve.

Knox Boxes belong in that same category — small measures with the potential for enormous impact.

Communities like O’Hara are trying to do the same kind of preventative work while still respecting personal freedom.