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From: tbul@trsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Slow down--and live - (nf)
Message-ID: <55200100@trsvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Aug-84 13:07:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: trsvax.55200100
Posted: Wed Aug 29 13:07:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Sep-84 08:42:14 EDT
Lines: 26
Nf-ID: #N:trsvax:55200100:000:1400
Nf-From: trsvax!tbul    Aug 29 12:07:00 1984

#N:trsvax:55200100:000:1400
trsvax!tbul    Aug 29 12:07:00 1984

This was taken from FORBES, August 27, 1984.

"Seat belts and airbags may work, but the only effective way to reduce traffic
injuries and deaths may be the most obvious and least popular:  Make drivers
slow down.  That, at least, is what studies in various countries with seat
belt laws seem to indicate.  In the U.K., where 95% of the drivers buckle up
but the speed limit is 70mph, injuries were reduced only 23% in the first 11
months of the law's enforcement--instead of the expected 34%, says the
Insurance Institute for Highway Sefety, an industry group.  In France, which
started enforcing seat belt laws in July 1973, the death rate continued to rise
until the speed limit was slowed from no-limit to 70mph in December 1973.  A
year later the death rate had dropped a dramatic 57%.  Studies in Canada,
Australia, Switzerland and New Zealand have come to the same conclusion:  Seat
belts alone won't do the trick; reducing speed does.  The U.S., with its
well-enforced speed limits, proves the point, too.  Since going from 65mph
and 70mph state limits to a national 55mph rule, traffic fatality rates
have dropped from 3.5 per 100 million vehicle miles in 1975 to 2.9 in 1982,
with or without safety devices, the National Safety Council says."

				Thomas Bulkowski

"Find an aim in life before you run out of ammunition." - Arnold Glasow
allegra!convex!ctvax!trsvax!tbul  Fort Worth, Texas