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From: bottom_david@mtblue.DEC (DAVE BOTTOM ASO/4AC 271-6935)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re:airbags
Message-ID: <467@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 10:21:44 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.467
Posted: Wed Jan 15 10:21:44 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 20:58:50 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 42

It has been interesting to watch this debate go on. Most postings have
been emotional and not factual.

I favor airbags as an *OPTION* not manditory equipment. At this tinme
only two cars world wide offer airbags as an option, niether of which
are in my proce range, or the price range of most people. They are
Mercedes Benz and BMW.

Some amusing points that have been made against airbags:

1. They will inflate when they want to blinding me causing an accident.

Not true.

2. They will inflate and shatter my glasses blinding me for life (if I
live through the accident)

I still haven't stopped laughing about this one. Give me a break.

3. They will stay inflated and cause the accident to be worse since I
won't be able to control my car.

If the airbag has inflated due to an accident you cannot react faster
than the airbag will defalte, you most probably wouldn't even notice the
airbag inflating or deflating, you would just find that it had, and that
it had saved you form injury.

All testing to date on airbags conducted by companies independant from
the auto manufacturers has concluded that airbags significatly reduce
the risk of injury in serious accidents when used correctly with a
seatbelt system. Even when seatbelts are not used airbags proved
effective in reducing injuries for the driver of the vehicle.

But as usual, in order to get airbags offered as an option, we will probably
have to make them manditory since Detroit is not interested in passenger
safety, just profits.

Dave Bottom
DEC Augusta Maine
!dec-rhea!dec-mtblue!bottom_david

*this is my opinion not DEC's*