Quote:
Originally Posted by pjrob
Recently it has dropped to 10.2 Litres/100 Kilometres. This is quite dramatic after trying for so long and not succeeding.
The method will not be welcome to many.
It came as a result of trying to assess the risk-compensatory effect of removing ones seatbelt.
I have worn a seatbelt since 1966 which is five years before they were compulsory here in Melbourne,Australia which suggests accurately I am a risk-averse person.
It was a dramatic enough drop for me to say this against all my conditioning.
I did not expect this effect. I was only trying to assess the truth of the idea that one drives less safely with a seatbelt and more safely without one primarily because of reports that this occurs with bicycle helmets also.
I would suggest to anyone trying this to hook the seatbelt under your own belt to give the appearance of wearing it if the police are particularly nasty about seatbelt wearing as they are here. What is most important is that YOU know you are not wearing the seatbelt and are driving with this conciousness.
I welcome any criticism or remarks about this and also refer anyone who is interested in the relative efficacy of seatbelts to read up on the work of English researcher Prof. John Adams.
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I'm all for personal choice. So long as you belt-up your under-18 kids/passengers, do what you want for yourself. If you want to risk your own life, be my guest.
But it seems to me that since you are aware that you're driving more safely NOT belted-in, it doesn't make sense to
actually drive that way. I mean no disrespect, but you're not Pavolv's dog. "NO BELT? I need to drive safely. BELT? I can drive a little more crazily." You've used your mind to figure out the difference in your driving style both ways. And from your post, I can tell you are an intelligent individual. Seems to me you can click your belt on and still drive in your "non-belt mode".
I don't mean to sound preachy. But it just seems kind of silly to risk driving without your belt secured when you can drive in a similar fashion with it hooked up.
As to the part about "YOU knowing that you are not wearing the seatbelt and you are driving with this consciousness": the flaw in that argument is the other guy...who is barreling towards you on the wrong side of the road or who just ran a red light...who DOESN'T know about your seatbelt situation. Is he driving any safer? You can be the safest driver in the world but without the belt, you'll be in a world of hurt.
Even if your "belt-on, belt-off" theory were true...is it worth risking your life for the small gain in FE? I can't answer that one for you. But I know what my answer would be.
Sorry if I'm coming off as mean. That wasn't my intention.
John