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From: biagioni@unc.UUCP (Edoardo Biagioni)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.auto
Subject: airbags
Message-ID: <761@unc.unc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Dec-85 19:30:44 EST
Article-I.D.: unc.761
Posted: Thu Dec 19 19:30:44 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 05:14:00 EST
References: <294@frog.UUCP> <408@gcc-milo.ARPA>
Reply-To: biagioni@unc.UUCP (Edoardo Biagioni)
Followup-To: net.politics
Distribution: net
Organization: CS Dept, U. of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lines: 43
Keywords: seat belts, airbags
Xref: watmath net.politics:12600 net.auto:8860
Summary: 

[article about seat belt laws and the priviledges the highway patrol
 derives from them deleted]
>
> Not quite.  It seems that Empress Dole (Sec. of Transportation) has decreed
> that airbags will be mandatory (gag) unless n% (n > 50, i think) of the states
> pass mandatory seat belt laws.  I, for one, would rather have seatbelts than
> airbags.
> <supressing long, rambling tirade against airbags and regulatory agencies>

Well, then let's hope *less* than 50% of the states pass seat belt laws!

Why would you rather have seat belts than airbags? Just offhand,
airbags have the following advantages:
- They work even when you don't think about them (i.e., when you are
  distracted or tired, which is when you might need them most...).
- They are more comfortable than seat belts, and comfort when
  driving is important.
- They work even for kids or people who aren't "normal size".
- It is easier to enforce airbag installation than seat belt wearing.
  This means that more people will be protected.
- Once you have an airbag, you will always use it when needed.
- You have no incentive to deactivate the airbag. I have seen lots
  of cars where the seat belts have been taken down.

The only disadvantage I can see in airbags is their cost, which last
I heard was estimated at about $300 (U.S.). Since that is about 5%
of a CHEAP car, it seems like it might be worth the investment.
Other than this extra cost, I can't think why anyone would prefer seat
belts to airbags, unless it is to encourage "natural" selection,
of course :-). (Smiley because I can't believe anyone REALLY
wants only seat-belters to survive and reproduce).
I share your dislike of regulatory agencies, but I would prefer to have
them regulate airbags than what percentage of the states must have
seat belt laws.
>
>-- 
>John Allred
>General Computer Company 
>uucp: seismo!harvard!gcc-milo!john

			Ed Biagioni
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