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From: bottom@katadn.DEC
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: airbags
Message-ID: <400@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Sep-85 07:02:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.400
Posted: Thu Sep 12 07:02:51 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Sep-85 04:16:26 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 33


My insurance company (USAA) recently sent the results of a study they 
conducted on airbags out to all of us insured parties. They claim that 
they had no accidental inflations of air bags due to bumps etc. In fact, 
they bent the frame of one of the test cars on a bump hit at high speed 
and the airbag still did not inflate. The airbags did inflate when 
required by impact without fail. The photos include were impressive 
showing that face to steering wheel impacts that occurr even when 
wearing seatbelts could be avoided entirely. They went on to give 
statistics on the airbags that have been used and may "fatal" accidents 
were avoided thruogh the use of airbags. 
 For those of you who believe that we can get airbags if we want they 
said that airbags are options on two cars worldwide the Mercedes and the 
BMW. Airbags were offered but not marketed on GM producst for a few 
years in the mid 70's and the entire US auto industry has based it's 
claim that the american public does not want them on the relatively low 
sales that resulted from their non-sales approach of these devices.
You cannot at this time buy an airbag system to be retrofitted into your 
car. They were able to retorfit their company fleet but only as they are 
a volume buyer and this offer is anot available to the general public.   
 The cost of airbags is a hot item and rightfully so. The cost of the 
mercedes system is $800. However they have a source (they retoriftted 
right?) that can install them for $300 each. A small price to pay for 
your life eh? 
 I don't favor making airbags mandatory but I would like to be able to 
buy one for myself, you can go and drive off a cliff for all I care.
If you don't have airbags I believe that should be your choice as well 
as mine.


Dave Bottom
DEC AUgusta Maine
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