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Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen
From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: PISSED OFF (seatbelts)
Message-ID: <861@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Jan-85 09:11:03 EST
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.861
Posted: Tue Jan 22 09:11:03 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Jan-85 04:41:32 EST
References: <932@amdahl.UUCP> <43000009@rna.UUCP>
Reply-To: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 60

In article <43000009@rna.UUCP> serge@rna.UUCP writes:

>What upsets me is the fact that available auto safety technology
>is not used by the car manufactures. I recently saw a documentary
>about this car called the Research Safety Vehicle. The RSV included
>such features as:
>- air-bags 

Air bags are *not* everything they're trumped up to be.  They often
act too quickly (in minor collisions), they do not protect from side
impacts, they are expensive, they cost a fortune to replace after an
accident, they do not allow you to retain *any* control after the
impact, ...  Give me seat belts any day!

>- energy absorbing collapseable engine and trunk sections

This is nothing new.  The Rabbit was introduced in 1975.  It has
collapsible, energy-absorbing engine and trunk sections.

>- light weight energy absorbing foam in the body panel voids

A good idea.  Why isn't anybody doing this?  Should even be pretty
cheap...

>- a frame designed to rollover upright without collapsing

Most definitely not unique.  Any self-respecting designer aims for
this.

>- reinforced bars in the door panels for side collisions

*** These are required by US Federal Laws! ***  If you import a
European model yourself, you will need to install reinforcement bars
in the dors to pass the safety inspection.

>- and of course seat belts.
>The car was not ugly, it was energy efficient and would carry a
>price tag of about 7,000 to 8,000 dollars if mass produced.
>Test show that people would come out of 50 mph collision
>with a brick wall with absolutely no injuries.

I'll believe it when I see it.  $7000-8000 ??? Fuel efficient?  Most
RSVs I've seen have been very heavy, adversely affecting fuel economy.
And the 50 mph without injury I'm somewhat skeptical about.
*absolutely no injuries* ??  Hmmm...  

>Then there was the case of the women with a used car that, unknown
>to her, had had airbags installed during the short time in the 70's
>when they were available as options. She hit a truck head on and the car was
>demolished. The officer who first arrived on the scene called for
>an ambulance to take the bodies away. He was very shocked to see
>the woman and her passanger walk away unharmed. Seat belts would
>not have saved them.

How do you know that?

			\tom haapanen
			watmath!watdcsu!haapanen

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