Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rabbit.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!mhuxa!mhuxi!mhuxt!eagle!alice!rabbit!jj From: jj@rabbit.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Make mine seatbelts. - (nf) Message-ID: <1693@rabbit.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Jul-83 11:53:08 EDT Article-I.D.: rabbit.1693 Posted: Thu Jul 14 11:53:08 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 15-Jul-83 18:01:03 EDT References: <185@inmet.UUCP> Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill Lines: 33 Reading wkb's response to the above article. (The response concerned myths about seatbelts compared to myths about airbags, claiming that the arguments about airbags were comparable to the fairy tales told about seatbelts when they were first installed in cars.) The author missed two points, one ethical and one practical. The practical point is that the probability of a seatbelt being injurious (beyond the bruises it leaves in a head-on crash) are very small, reportedly (AAA statistics, but somewhat old) 1:1600. The probability of air bags not being effective are roughly comparable to the probability of a sideswipe accident (I seem to remember 5%, but might be bigger) or an off-the-road trip (rolling or not) where there are several impacts, another 25-50% of fatal accidents (depends on who you believe), thus airbags don't help half of the time, or so, and the limited remaining seatbelt protection is all you have to save you (no shoulder belt, you're blinded by the bag, deafened by the concussion, and unable to steer if the capability remains in the automobile). The two ideas (about seatbelts and airbags) are simply not compatable, and the argument is just another guilt by association trip put on by one of the net sophists. The ethical point is that you don't have to wear seatbelts, you can indeed take them OUT if you insist. With airbags, half of the seatbelt is automatically taken out, i.e. you don't have the choice of having it at all, and the airbags (mostly unremovable without great trouble and expense, even then leaving the dash/steering wheel a mess) are unavoidable, whether or not you want them. I realize that some of you don't see the hazard involved in letting the govenment compell you to take THEIR form of protection, but I can't educate all of you in good sense. rabbit!(vacation the next two weeks)jj