Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site eneevax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!eneevax!hsu From: hsu@eneevax.UUCP (Dave Hsu) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.auto Subject: Re: airbags Message-ID: <472@eneevax.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Jan-86 01:50:59 EST Article-I.D.: eneevax.472 Posted: Fri Jan 3 01:50:59 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 4-Jan-86 07:00:42 EST References: <294@frog.UUCP> <408@gcc-milo.ARPA> <761@unc.unc.UUCP> <1163@mtx5a.UUCP> Reply-To: hsu@eneevax.UUCP (Dave Hsu) Distribution: net Organization: Imperial Widget Research Center, Kingdom of Maryland Lines: 46 Keywords: belts 'n bags. Xref: linus net.politics:12118 net.auto:7987 Summary: well, I almost agree In article <1163@mtx5a.UUCP> mat@mtx5a.UUCP (m.terribile) writes: >> [somebody else] >> 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 also protect you only in frontal collisions. > And only marginally so, even then. Airbags are not considered completely effective without the use of seatbelts anyway. >And I feel one helluva lot better strapped into the car so that if >something happens and I get thrown to one side, I won't yank the >wheel over and compound the accident. Interesting. I've noticed that most of my passengers feel MUCH better when they've snapped their belts on than when they haven't :-) >> - You have no incentive to deactivate the airbag. I have seen lots >> of cars where the seat belts have been taken down. >I do. I want my three-point harness. I don't want a system that will knock >me away from the controls when I may need the most control effort - and skill. Ah, here we disagree. I really can't think of any skills I'd need in the middle of a collision other than the need to make sure I haven't reflexively locked my limbs, waiting for quadruple compound impact fractures. It would be nice to know that something collapsible besides my arms is waiting to cushion me. >It may also mean that more drivers will be able to control their cars in >panic stops when the rear wheels break loose. I can, but without the belt, >there's just no way I could keep all my weight from going to the brake pedal, >and no way I could steer. I don't think most drivers are much better. > >Dammit, I want my harness. Seat belts are NOT just emergency (read collision) >protection, they are basic equipment necessary for the safe operation of an >automobile. > > from Mole End Mark Terribile Amen. -dave -- David Hsu Communication & Signal Processing Lab, EE Department University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 hsu@eneevax.umd.edu {seismo,allegra}!umcp-cs!eneevax!hsu CF522@UMDD.BITNET And then there were none.