Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Version 1.0 Netnews CMS/BITNET 5/19/85; site PSUVM.BITNET Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rochester!cmu-cs-pt!cadre!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!t3b From: T3B@psuvm.BITNET Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal Subject: Re: Seatbelts for passengers Message-ID: <2115T3B@psuvm> Date: Sun, 18-Aug-85 17:32:18 EDT Article-I.D.: psuvm.2115T3B Posted: Sun Aug 18 17:32:18 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 21:55:12 EDT References: <535@brl-tgr.ARPA> 987@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP Lines: 25 Xref: watmath net.auto:7734 net.legal:2120 I agree with comments made about the "sociology of seatbelt use" -- that there is a rule of courtesy that seems to operate in passenger seatbelt use. One seems to insult the driver if one uses a seatbelt. One frosty morning in 1971, as a passenger in a VW beetle on PA route 80 headed for New York, I declined to insist on putting on my seat belt. Rounding a curve and crossing an overpass, we went into a skid, flipped over, railroaded upside down along a guard rail, and came to rest, right side up and semi-conscious, teetering on the guard rail. The car was totalled, but we managed to creep carefully out of it with nothing worse than some cuts, bruises, and hair full of broken glass. When the state police arrived, they asked, seriously, where the bodies were. Since 1971 I use seat belts; I tell my passengers I prefer to have them buckle up; I made a deal with my daughter that when she drives she will use seat belts and tell passengers that her father's rule is nobody rides in our car with her unless buckled. A seat belt law may help to tip the balance that will change the social rules against seat belt use. -- Tom Benson {akgua,allegra,ihnp4,cbosgd}!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!t3b (UUCP) T3B@PSUVM (BITNET) 76044,3701 (COMPUSERVE)