henry (08/17/82)
I will take belts any day over air bags. The most basic reason is that they are so much simpler that they have got to be more reliable, and safety devices absolutely must be as reliable as possible. Getting trapped is a legitimate worry, but that can happen whether you are wearing a belt or not. An important side effect of belts, which should not be taken lightly, is that a driver who is firmly strapped in is considerably more likely to retain control in an accident. It is not an accident that airline pilots have elaborate lap-and-shoulder belts. Given a choice, in fact, I would take a form of belt that you can't get any more: plain adjustable belts with fixed mounts. For reliability in an accident and firm restraint during violent maneuvering, these have got to score higher than inertia-reel mechanisms. (Again, note what airliners are equipped with.) Sure, they are a bit more work to put on, but if you follow safety rules only when they are convenient you are not long for this world anyway. Henry Spencer U of Toronto