Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-08-21, Page 2Page 2 - Zurich Citizens News, August 21, 1975 SEAT BELT SAFETY My involvement with school bus safety and highway safety brought the related problem of seat belts to my attent- ion. I thought I should pass on to you some of the infor- mation and facts about how the use of seat belts can dramatically reduce the risk of injury and death. Scientific testing has given us ample evidence that strong- ly supports the use of seat belts yet few people seem to use them fearing that a seat belt would trap them in their car or just thinking that they are too much trouble. But if you look at the facts you will see that wearing your seat belt is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of being hurt in a car accident. 12.5% of Ontario's present population (almost 1 million people) will be killed or injured in a motor vehicle accident within the next ten years. Over a lifetime, a pers- on has more than a fifty/ fifty chance of being injured in a car accident. In Ontario, one out of every three reported accidents results in injury and one in every hundred results in death. During 1973, there were nearly 100,000 people injured and 2,000 killed in traffic accidents. Serious car accidents are especially com- mon among younger people. For people under age 35, traffic accidents are respons- ible for more deaths than any disease and for more deaths than all other accid- ents combined --pretty shock- ing statistics! In 1973, in Ontario, 830 drivers died in car accidents. The death rate for unbelted drivers was about 2.3 per 1,000 accident -involved drivers. The death rate for belted drivers was only 1.0 per 1,000 accident -involv- ed drivers. In Metro Toronto in 1970, 35 drivers and 22 passengers were killed in traffic accid- ents --none were wearing seat belts. A study and analy- sis of these fatal accidents concluded that more than half the deaths of both pass- engers and drivers could have been prevented if seat belts had been worn. A major study of 28,000 traffic accident records was conducted in Sweden in the mid -1960's. This study included serious and minor accidents at all speeds and found that people who had "buckled up" received about half as many injuries as those who hadn't. The greatest reductions were in head, face and chest injuries. No one wearing a seat belt was kill- ed in any collision at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. People without their seat belts on were killed in collis- ions at speeds less than 20 miles per hour. Small children are likely to suffer serious head injuries even in low - At Huron Country playhouse Barefoot returns One of the biggest suc- cesses this year at the Huron County Playhouse has been Barefoot in the Park. This hilarious piece was the first play performed this season, and was so well-received that it has been brought back to the Playhouse for a repeat engagement Wednes- day, August 20 to Saturday August 23. An engaging Neil Simon comedy concerning' a newly married couple who find they are delightfully mismatched. Paul Bratter, the enterpris- ing young lawyer who can't quite fit into the Bohemian lifestyle his wife has design- ed, is played by Rex Stallings. Rex brought a great deal of experience to the Playhouse including several films and leading roles in Death of a Salesman, and Jean Louis Barrault's Rabelais. Rex will also be remembered by Playhouse audiences for his subsequent portrayal of the Gentleman Caller, in 'The Glass Menagerie. Vinetta Strombergs returns to play Corrie Bratter, a flighty, feministic young bride who tries to make life excit- ing for her new husband. Miss Strombergs endeared herself to Playhouse aud- iences most recently, when she tap-danced the role of Joan in Dames at Sea. She has also performed at the National Arts Centre, and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Aileen Taylor Smith, anoth- er Playhouse favourite, once again plays Mr. Banks, Corrie 's mother. Miss Tayl- or Smith is best known to local audiences for her moving portrayal of Amanda in the Glass Menagerie. She also played Miss Prism in the Importance of Being Earnest. Her credits include Cactus Flower, the Tender Trap, and a great deal of work with the Pasadena Playhouse in California. George Murray, a name familiar to many Canadian households recreates the role of Victor Velasco, the suave and sophisticated upstairs neighbor. Most recently, George has made many guest appearances on national television, and was the host of the special "Dial 100". This spring, he played Mr. Kirby in You Can't Take It With You for the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. An evening of stimulating comedy will be enjoyed by all who come to the Huron Country Playhouse this week to see one of the return performances of Barefoot in The Park. Be sure not to miss it! speed accidents. Seventeen per cent of the car occupants killed or injured in Ontario in 1973 were children under the age of'14. Research has shown seat belts have been proven to be more effective in some kinds of collisions than others. They are more effect- ive in head-on and front - angled accidents and roll- overs than in side or rear end collisions. They also tend to be more effective at speeds of less than 6Q miles per hour. It has also been shown that vehicle occu- pants are better off in a side collision if they are wearing their seat belts. Seat belts cannot always prevent fatal injuries in extremely high- speed accidents. However, they are of some benefit in nearly all accidents. Some people believe that in a car crash, they can protect themselves by holding on to the steering wheel or bracing themselves with their arms or legs. But collisions happen too fast to permit this- the forces involved in a collis- ion are too great to withstand even at moderate speeds. In a 30 mile per hour crash with an immovable barrier, the occup- ant of the car strikes the interior of the car with a force of several thousand pounds --more than enough to cause injury to himself and damage to the interior of the car. Studies have also been done on whether it is better to not have a seta belt on in a car accident or to be "thrown clear". These studies showed that the risk of death or serious injury is many times greater if the person is thrown out of the car. About one- quarter of all passenger and driver deaths result from be- ing thrown out of the car and one study estimated that 80% of those deaths could have been prevented if the person had been buckled into the car. Those who believe it is safer to be thrown clear should consider why motor- cycle accidents are so danger- ous. In Australia, where seat belt legislation is now in effect, there has been a 25% drop in fatalities and injuries in the first year. Before the seat belt law was introduced in Australia, 30% of accident victims there entered hospital. This has now been reduced to 14%. Offic- ials in Australia estimate that compliance with the"buckle up" legislation is as high as 85%. The Ontaio Ministry of Health has estimated that 500 lives and $50 to $100 million could be saved annualy in health care costs connected with automobile accidents in Ontario. The Ministry of Health's own statistics show that motor vehicle accidents cost the health system of this province $1 trillion a day!. In the absence of seat belt legislation in Ontario, every car driver and passenger has to decide for himself or her- self whether he or she thinks that seat belts are worth the trouble it takes to use them, Every person who uses the roads risks injury or death- an unpleasant thought, but the risk is real! No one is immune to accidents and noth- ing can guarantee you ag- ainst an accident: No one can control all the factors involved in a traffic collision. But, a simple, quick and eff- ective way of cutting the risk by more than half is to "buckle up" - WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT! Gospel singer Tommy Ambrose shares good feelings and great music with CBC -TV viewers on Celebration, a joyful new series scheduled Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Banghart, Re!!y, 'Doig aid Co, Chartered Accountants 268 Main St., Exeter ARTHUR W. READ Resident Partner Bus. 235-0120, Res. 238-8075 Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRISTS ` AUCTIONEERS J. E. Longstaff f OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH MEDICAL CENTRE 5274240 Tgesday, 'Thursday, Friday, Sat- urday a.m., Thursday evening CLINTON OFFICE 10 Isaac Street 412.7010 Monday and Wednesday Call either office for • appointment, Norman Martin OPTOMETRIST Office Flours: 9 - 12 A,M. — 1:30- 6 P.M. Closed all day Saturday Phone 235.2433 Exeter INSURANCES Robert F. Westlake Insurance "Specializing M General Imm rrnea" Phone 1364351 — Zorlah 110111111..10100* Guaranteed Trust Certificates 1 Yr 71/2% 2YR 8% 3'-4 YR....91/4% . 5YR 97/8% J. W. HABERFIR ZURICH PHONE 2.4146 PIRCY WRIGHT LICENSED AUCTIONEER Kippan, Ont. AuctionSale Service that is most efficient and courteous. CALL THE WRIGHT AUCTIONEER Telephone Menaall (519)262.5515 Hugh Tom FILSON and ROESON AUCTIONEERS X years' experience of complete sale service Provincially licensed. Conduct sales of any kind, • any place. To insure success of your sale, or appraisal Phone Collect ' 666-0833 666-1967 NORM WHITING LICENSED AUCTIONEER & APPRAISER Prompt, Courteous, Efficient ANY TYPE, ANY SIZE, ANYWHERE We give complete sale service. PROFIT BY EXPERIENCE Phone Collect 235-1114 EXETER GERALD L. MERNER Chartered Accountant BUS: 20 Sanders E. — EXETER — 235-0281 RES: 10 Green Acres — GRAND SEND — 238-8070