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weight sensors to figure out whether or not the passenger seat was occupied and needed it's seatbelt fastened, congress repealed the requirement.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