On Tue, Nov 11, 2003 at 11:17:53AM -0000, Telewest (PH) wrote:
>
> I was shocked to see Greg Perigo writing in MG World that 42,000 people die
> on US highways each year, 60% of the fatalities being preventable if
> seatbelts had been worn. The US has a current population of just under 300
> million, I believe. The UK population is about 60 million, and we have
> around 3,000 road deaths per year, seat belts having been compulsory for
> front seat occupants for many years, rear seats (where fitted) more
> recently. Reduce 42,000 by 60% and you get about 17,000, which is not far
> from pro-rata with the UK.
Front seat belt laws have been around for years in the US as well. It doesn't
do much. Apparently, it's an invasion of the person's 'God given Right' to be
an idiot. That's the jist of the agrument that I hear from people opposed to
it.
I've worn my seatable almost always, since I sold my '72B and bought my '80 TR7
back in '85 I believe. The '72s belts were very uncomfortable and hard to work
as I remember, but the TR7s were fine. At least that's the excuse I remember.
:-)
Funny thing is, my current '77B belts are ok. My 6 year old has trouble with
them,
but then he has trouble with most. Leading me to drive off in my daily driver
with
him still working them. Which is bad. We usually have to stop halfway up the
block.
Both my boys always have worn seat belts, and start yelling at me if I do drive
off
with them not buckled. Sometimes, we have 'buckle races', as the 6 year old is
very
competative. Get's the job done.
Paul.
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