Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site floyd.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!wgg From: wgg@floyd.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Make mine seatbelts. Message-ID: <1711@floyd.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Jul-83 10:36:00 EDT Article-I.D.: floyd.1711 Posted: Fri Jul 1 10:36:00 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jul-83 04:47:51 EDT Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ Lines: 23 Back in the bad old days when you could to 65 on an interstate, (I81 south of Binghamton, NY), I had an incident that made up my mind about air bags. The road is divided there, with the southbound lanes some distance from the northbound lanes, which I was traveling. I was doing 65 in the right lane, and was being passed by a car going maybe 1-2 mph faster, when a deer jumped out in front of him from the center divider, and he hit it. His hood flew up and parted company from the car. I didn't see where the deer landed. Everybody stood on the brakes, and he stayed on the road. What's the point? If he had had an air bag, it would have almost certainly deployed, with him still going over the present 55 mph limit. So he would have been stunned, blinded (those bags aren't transparent), and in bad trouble. About the time he went off the road, the bag would be deflating, just about when it would have been really needed. The upshot? I'll take it if big brother says I have to, but I will insist on lap AND shoulder belts as well. I've used them since 19 ought 59, when you had to install them yourself. Incidentally, the man who hit the deer WAS wearing a belt. Laura Creighton brings up a nasty side effect... Will rental cars still have belts? They will or I don't rent! Bill Graves floyd!wgg