HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, SAFETY BELT

Responses

Lacunae

Compose a Response to This Article

Compose Response

Title *

Author Information

Contributors
First Name and Middle Initial * First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'. Last Name * Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'. Email Address * Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com Occupation * Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'. Affiliation * Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

PLEASE NOTE:

Responses are moderated before posting and publication is at the absolute discretion of BMJ, however they are not peer-reviewed
Once published, you will not have the right to remove or edit your response. Removal or editing of responses is at BMJ's absolute discretion
If patients could recognise themselves, or anyone else could recognise a patient from your description, please obtain the patient's written consent to publication and send them to the editorial office before submitting your response [Patient consent forms]
By submitting this response you are agreeing to our full [Response terms and requirements]

Vertical Tabs

Other responses

Jump to comment:

Belt up...Speed up?
Tony H. Reinhardt-Rutland
Published on: 26 May 2009

Published on: 26 May 2009
Belt up...Speed up?
- Tony H. Reinhardt-Rutland, Reader in Psychology
The story of seatbelts has ever been one of success - at least for government bodies and the motor industry. However, seatbelts have an unfortunate side effect owing to the dissipation of the kinetic and vestibular discomfort associated with acceleration and deceleration: in effect, faster and more erratic driving is encouraged.
Moreover, any savings in casualties among motor vehicle occupants must be weighed...
Show More

The story of seatbelts has ever been one of success - at least for government bodies and the motor industry. However, seatbelts have an unfortunate side effect owing to the dissipation of the kinetic and vestibular discomfort associated with acceleration and deceleration: in effect, faster and more erratic driving is encouraged.
Moreover, any savings in casualties among motor vehicle occupants must be weighed against the obvious failure of seatbelts to assist vulnerable road-users such as pedestrians and cyclists - and hence public- transport users, since walking and cycling are generally the most practible modes for accessing public transport. The official attitude to this issue - at least in the UK - has often been one of oversight, even if the value of walking and cycling are recognised. The limited provision of paths for the (sometimes) exclusive use of these vulnerable groups is hardly compensation.
There is plenty of evidence to show that speeds on urban and suburban streets - when the density of traffic permits - have steadily increased [1], an issue for which seatbelt use cannot be absolved. Indeed, the link between seatbelt use and increased speed was recognised by at least one state: German seatbelt-fitted buses were permitted higher speeds than buses without seatbelts [2].
So, happy-with-reservations 50th birthday...
References
[1] UK Department for Transport (2008). Road Safety Compliance Consultation. London: TSO.
[2] Adams, J. G. U. (1995). Risk. London: UCL.
Show Less

Conflict of Interest:
None declared.
- Back to top

Main menu

Plain text

PLEASE NOTE:

Vertical Tabs

Other responses

Jump to comment:

Log in using your username and password

Main menu

Log in using your username and password

You are here

Plain text

PLEASE NOTE:

Vertical Tabs

Other responses

Jump to comment:

Read the full text or download the PDF:

Log in using your username and password