Honda Says "No" to Seat Belts for Larger Passengers
June 14, 2000
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Administrator:
I am writing in support of Elizabeth Fisher's petition to amend Federal
Regulation SEC. 571.209 Standard No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.
There are laws in 49 states and the District of Columbia that require seat
belt use, yet there is no federal regulation that requires vehicle manufacturers
to make seat belt assemblies that fit people who weigh over 215 pounds. What
good are stringent safety requirements if we cannot fasten our seat belts?
On the NHTSA website there is an advertisement for the Buckle Up America
Campaign. How can you encourage rigorous enforcement of state and local
seat-belt laws when your own regulation seems to be based on exclusion of a
significant portion of our population?
Because fat is more prevalent in certain racial and ethnic populations, more
common in women than in men, and more common in older people than young,
denying fat people the protection of being included within the limits of
federal seat belt regulations disproportionately affects these disadvantaged
groups. That's discrimination.
Please amend 49CFR571.209 to provide a means for large people to buckle
their seat belts in vehicles they are riding in.
Can or Will this also include off-road vehicles as well; Jeeps & ATV's??
Sincerely,
Karol K. Danner-Rieland
