Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihnss.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihnss!warren
From: warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: seatbelt statistics
Message-ID: <1900@ihnss.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Feb-84 15:39:56 EST
Article-I.D.: ihnss.1900
Posted: Wed Feb  1 15:39:56 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Feb-84 09:43:04 EST
References: <797@hou5d.UUCP> <427@pyuxn.UUCP>, <174@opus.UUCP> <539@pyuxa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 33

Some netters must be too young to remember our national experiment
in behavior modification, when the government dictated in the early 70's
that cars would not be able to start without having the seatbelts
buckled.  After the minor surgery to bypass this interlock became
the most commonly performed auto service, and a lot of people
complained that they had to buckle up their grocery bags and other
inanimant objects (yes, these cars had weight sensors to figure out
whether or not the passenger seat was occupied and needed it's
seatbelt fastened, congress repealed the requirement.

Most cars still have warnings though if you start the car without
buckling up.  This is quite sufficient to give you no excuse just
because you forgot.  If your car doesn't have one, you can probably
buy a suitable buzzer from an auto parts store, or build yourself a
warning device from Radio Shack parts.

As for locking your doors, asside from making it harder for people
(e.g. small children) to open the door by accident while the car is
moving, and for discouraging attacks in bad neighborhoods, I would
be surprised if there were any benefit.  There is an obvious problem
in making it harder to get out in case of a crash, especially if you
are unconscious.  I've also seen no particular benefit in locking
your doors while leaving the car in most cases, unless you have
something inside that attracts theives.  I doubt that the door lock
is any real deterrent to a determined thief.  It does make it
impossible for a good samaritan to turn off your lights if you
forget.
-- 

	Warren Montgomery
	ihnss!warren
	IH x2494