Chuck,
I'm not about to start a (futile) debate about the pros and cons of seat
belts, but I'll tell you my experience. Back in the '60s, I was already a
firm believer in seatbelts and insisted on installing seat belts in my
future wife's 1964 Corvair. A few years later, I was driving that car, she
was a passenger when a full size Ford station wagon careened out of control
across a four-lane highway on the outskirts of State College, PA. The
driver of the Ford was coming from the opposite direction and had swerved to
avoid a delivery van that had pulled out into traffic and into his path.
The Ford skidded, and ended up going backwards towards us. I had two
options, hit the Ford or swerve into a concrete wall; "blasting myself out
of trouble" was not an option. I opted for the Ford and we collided, with
the left front fender of the Corvair contacting the tailgate of the Ford and
producing a standing wave in the rear quarter panels of the station wagon.
My wife ended up with bruised ribs instead of going through the windshield.
Beauty may be only skin deep, but I have been fortunate to be able to look
at her unscarred face for the last 35 years, instead of having to wish I had
installed those seatbelts.
Here in Canada, we have universal medical care (probably another socialist
concept to you, but we're a bit more European that way; we also gave up
executing criminals a long time ago). This means that I end up helping to
pay for the injuries that occur when people who can't, don't, on won't
"blast [themselves] out of trouble" insist on not wearing seatbelts. Mind
you, if the accidents are severe enough, there's usually not much of a
medical bill to pay.
As for bumpers and tops, I would agree if I lived in a more temperate
climate. ;-)
Chuck Vandergraaf
Pinawa, MB
-----Original Message-----
From: CHarris990@aol.com [mailto:CHarris990@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday January 07, 2001 8:11 PM
To: pcfisher@ibm.net; Morgans@autox.team.net
Cc: KatHaus7@aol.com
Subject: Re: Seat Belt Question
You know, I really do not see the need for seat belts. I get the uneasy
feeling that it just one more thing to whine about. Been driving the same
4/4 for almost 35 years and I make sure that I have lap belts in when we go
to a slalom, because the rules say they are to be there. It is sort of like
when I am on a motorcycle, if I want to wear a helmet that is my decision
not
some government official who has decided that I need a new mommy and daddy.
My daughter was carried about in a seat mounted sideways in the adequate
luggage space. If you want seat belts and feel they are needed, fine. The
fact is you can usually blast your way out of trouble and seat belts are
just
an effeminate affectation just like bumpers and tops.
Chuck Harris
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