Education, not seat belts
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I HEARTILY agree with your leader of January 29, raising the standard of the driving test is a better answer to accident reduction than seat belt compulsion. I have nothing against people wearing seat belts by choice but after 28 years driving various cars, vans and lorries, without feeling the need to use a seat belt, it is compulsion I am against.
I also feel that driver, cyclist and pedestrian education would obviate the need for sideguards. Taking to a bicycle myself on occasions, I have warned people not to cycle up the inside of a vehicle about to turn left because of cut-in and they are quite unaware of what happens.
Commercial vehicle designers have problems meeting the existing myriad of regulations as well as keeping weight and c down while remaining competitive on performance economy without more regulations.
Seat belts and side-guards might reduce injuries in an accident but improved road c and driver-training might prevent the accident ever happening.
N. I. ALLEN Watford.