It will not take long before the majority of the fleet industry starts to say something like this. For now we are faced with the largest group of complaints since the elimination of the front vent window.

What am I talking about? The new interlock- ignition system that is mandatory on all '74's with the harness-belt-"Bra-belt"-type system that is designed to keep us alive.

Even though Ford tried to innovate in this area of safety more than a decade ago with their own pioneering seat belt program (that virtually nobody bought), I still give the consumer advocate his just dues in spearheading a campaign that now insists (government style) that we all protect ourselves.

You do not have to be reminded to brace yourselves toward the tidal wave of dissatisfaction among the over 60-percent of American drivers who still do not use seat belts. And what about the cost of the restraint equipment that he may not want to use? Granted, it is designed to save his life and the lives of those in his family. And it does just that.

But, with the ignition-interlock system we may be coming into an area of overkill. Backlash. There seems to be a personal invasion of privacy and freedom of choice that has always been integral with the ownership of a car.

There are the people, including fleet drivers, who will continue to be flag-wavers for Motherhood, apple pie and safety when they are officially queried and on record. These are the same drivers who are going to find one of the 47 ways to defeat the ignition-interlock system. These are the same drivers who are going to remind you that with air travel (that represents the initial 'ultimate' in safety regs), you can fly across the country or even overseas with only a lap belt about you during ascent and descent. Also, with air travel you have a cushioned seat ahead of you instead of a firm windshield and you are travelling at a rate ten times the velocity of a car.

If you have not experienced it yet I am only trying to warn you that the ignition-interlock devices are perhaps the best designed as is possible. Yet they are still expensive, still unacceptable to many, still a constant source of irritation to many, as well as an irritation to a fleet manager who is the recipient of these barbs.

It is also this writer's opinion that GM will find a huge success with their experimental option of their $200 air bags (you do get credit for seat belts as a "delete" option with the bags - net $175) on the larger cars. Unfortunately, they will not be available until after the first of the year. And this will be well after major commitments for the larger cars will already have been made. Therefore, a true picture of the demand for air-bag-equipped cars may not develop.

In spite of this negative, from a marketing sense, I believe that air bags will sell big with those that can afford them. Just to avoid those cumbersome harnesses. Try them. What a drag, but they do save lives. But so do air bags according to the researchers.