London Banter - View Single Post

Colin McKenzie · September 11th 04, 11:47 PM posted to uk.transport.london

Piccadilly Pilot wrote:

wrote:

"Piccadilly Pilot" wrote:
Martin J wrote:
Perhaps they don't realize that the reason it's called an "accident"
is because it goes against ALL planning. You could be driving
perfectly safe and have a lorry run smack into you!
And if that isn't enough, maybe they should consider that airbags are
only truly effective when use WITH seatbelts... Otherwise the airbag
just bats you about like a ping-pong ball...

One of my favorite quotes: "I wasn't planning on having an accident".
Well, it's like planning an accidental-pregnacy... life is what
happens while you had other things PLANNED. So, just take the
additional safety options available to you... It doesn't really take
that much addition time to use your seat belts... and seat belts have
been known to save lives... is your life worth saving... at least to
you?

I don't plan to have accidents - which they're not. I work to avoid
collisions. I passed my car test in 1975 and have never yet, even when
driving up to 1000 miles a week for my living, been anywhere near a
situation where a belt might have been needed.

It's my belief that drivers should not wear seat belts since they bring
about a false sense of security. All drivers should feel unsafe. If you
think this is some sort of illusion try riding a motorcycle and then driving
a Transit or somesuch. See which one gets the most clearance afforded by car
drivers.

It was interesting that before the wearing of seatbelts was made compulsory
the government published not only the number of deaths and injuries, but the
number of "accidents" as well. Since that time they've stopped publicising
the accident figure. I wonder why?

Spot on. And I would add, most road collisions are caused by people
taking small risks lots of times, because they get away with it most
of the time but not all the time.

Others, of course, are caused by people taking large risks in the
belief they're small ones.

The most rational approach to seatbelt wearing in cars is for all
occupants except the driver to wear them. Pity the law doesn't allow it.

Colin McKenzie
--
The great advantage of not trusting statistics is that
it leaves you free to believe the damned lies instead!