"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:15:30 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
news

Let's consider the opposite: In the subset consisting of people ejected
from their vehicles during an accident, what percentage survive?

My best Navy buddy didn't when he flipped his car on the DC loop
and it cut his legs off. He was 21.

Losing my legs would not fall under my personal definition of survival.
But,
I'm funny that way. YMMV

"Didn't" means he was ejected and didn't survive. The car rolled on
him, cutting his legs off. He quickly bled to death.
Other mates who were in the same car told me what happened.
They were not wearing belts either, but didn't get ejected, and none
were even hurt beyond sprains and contusions.
It was a '53 Pontiac, a tank. Of course it didn't even *have*
seatbelts.
His name was Warren McKinnon and we were like brothers. I got out 4
months before him, and we had plans go to the West coast together.
Two weeks before his discharge I called the ship in Portsmouth talk to
him and was told he had been killed the previous week.
In the Warren McKinnon subset the survival rate was 0%.
Seat belts are a no-brainer, and I suspect those who resist them have
no problem strapping on a tin foil hat.
The first time my uncle saw me buckle mine he looked at me like I was
an idiot and said,
"What the hell's gonna happen if you go in the river!?!?"
I didn't pay any attention to him on that. Maybe he was thinking
about his horse and buggy days along the Wabash.
And I don't care what others wear if it's not my car, or my family.
I wore mine before it was law, and demanded my passengers wear theirs
so their heads wouldn't mess up my windshield. My prerogative in my
car. I'd do the same law is revoked. Besides, when buckling up I
always momentarily fancy myself as Mario Andretti.

--Vic


I'm A.J. Foyt. Nice to see you again.