Seat belts for two rear-seat passenger will become standard equipment on all Chrysler Corp. passenger cars, April 1st. American Motors and Ford have announced that rear seat belts will be standard in all 1966 models of their passenger cars. G.M. is expected to follow suit shortly. Because a price increase ranging from $15 to $23 will be necessary to cover the installation, and because seat belts in both front and rear will be "delete options", it will be interesting to see the percentage of cars sold in the 1966 model year with front, rear, or both seats with belts.
Through continuing educational programs on the merits of seat belts, the fleet car driver has been made aware of the statistics involving accidents and how the frequency of fatal and serious injury is reduced when seat belts are used. The key word here is "used". A recent survey on the acceptance of seat belt use by drivers and passengers has revealed some rather frightening attitudes on the part of people who simply won't use their seat belt even though it is installed in the car they are driving. Most shocking was the conclusion that many drivers actually become someone else when they get behind the wheel of a high-powered car. Here, perhaps more than in any other area of his existence, he has a feeling of power. He is now in complete command for what may be his only experience is a position of such authority. Nobody, not even the grim reaper, apparantly is going to tell him he has to buckle a seat belt, obey the speed limit or stop at a red light.
Then we come to the area of complete apathy. This is the category that most of us fit into. "Why do I need to wear a safety belt?", is the question we all ask. Many of us drive thousands of miles a year without so much as a parking meter violation. Many more only drive back and forth to the office or the corner store. We can all drive these familiar routes with our eyes closed. The reason that a seat belt should be worn on these trips is that many people evidently do just that.
The National Safety Council statistics on the one-car accident would seem to indicate that many drivers involved in this type of destruction either drive with their eyes closed or become so pre-occupied in thought, or day-dreaming, that they don't see even with open eyes. What about that short trip to the office or the store? Most of the fatal accidents happen within twenty-five miles of home, the Safety Council tells us, at speeds far below turnpike limits. Yet the apathy continues and the seat belt is idle. When the accident comes there is always a loss. Sometimes it is a loss of time. Frequently it is a loss of time and money. Sometimes it is a crippling disability. Sometimes it is a loss of life.
A third, absurd reason for not wearing seat belts is that drivers are afraid they will be thought cowardly if they take this precaution. Worrying about what the other fellow thinks about a display of good sense and sound judgement, is a far greater display of cowardice which shows a lack of the courage of conviction. This is especially true when safety is involved and ignoring the protection of seat belts is not admirable as the exploits of a dare-devil, it's just plain stupid.
If seat belts are to be effective they must be used. We all know they are effective in reducing serious injury and death. Certainly the automobile manufacturers realize this with the recent rear-seat installation decision.
Fleet administrators must take every effort to encourage the use of seat belts as a matter of good business. No one wants to equate a life with dollars and cents, but what would it cost your company to lose its top three salesmen in traffic fatalities which might have been prevented by a $15 installation and a rigid company rule that the seat belt be used?
