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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision!uw-beaver!tektronix!ogcvax!sequent!richard
From: richard@sequent.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Fast Driving
Message-ID: <336@sequent.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Jan-84 18:54:09 EST
Article-I.D.: sequent.336
Posted: Wed Jan 18 18:54:09 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jan-84 23:13:17 EST
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Portland
Lines: 46

Personally, I've always worn seatbelts, and I'm sure it's saved me hundreds
of dollars in hospital bills, if not funeral expenses.

I recently passed a fairly new car with a "55 saves fuel and lives" bumper
sticker, and I noticed the driver was not wearing seatbelts (I was fairly
sure of this, since on new cars shoulder harnesses are part of the seat belt,
and one wasn't visible.)  I was doing about 70, the "safety concious" driver
was doing around 55.  I suppose he didn't want to get his suit wrinkled.

I also heard a story that, when seatbelt laws were first being introduced,
then-president Nixon mentioned to one of the car company execs that "I'll
sign it, but you wouldn't catch me dead in one of those things."  The
exec was then confident that they could fight the seatbelt and airbag laws,
and have the power with them.

We still don't have mandatory seatbelt laws, and *not a single* car can
be bought in the U.S. that has airbags installed.

If we really wanted to save fuel and lives, the best ways would be:

o	Initiate a "Gas Tax Rebate" program - where a high tax was charged
	on every gallon, the majority of which was refunded to people
	evenly every year.  High-consumers would be punished, while those
	who drive very little, or not at all, would get a wind-fall.

o	Create and enforce seatbelt laws for all - not just children.
	(The child-restraint laws now in effect in some states are highly
	commendable, but alas, difficult to enforce.

o	Require auto manufacturers to offer airbags as an at-cost option;
	these are still shown to be effective life-saving devices.

o	Enforce the hazardous driving laws that *really* need it - like
	people tailgating at 70mph when there's no place for the lead
	car to move to.  Or high-speed driving in fog or on icy roads.
	I'm much more afraid of that Chevy eight feet behind me than
	I am of the *evil black Ferrari* that just zipped by.

There are hazards on our roads that are much, much worse than mild speeding,
and I think abolishing the "double nickel" would give the Highway Patrol
more time to save lives.

			From the Confused and Bleeding fingertips of
				...!sequent!richard

P.S.: Our site doesn't get net.flame, so don't bother. Ha!