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It’s interesting how the seat belt comment sets the time this was written. Seat belts have been required for basically my entire life and I, nor anyone else I k

by pests 2y ago

It’s interesting how the seat belt comment sets the time this was written. Seat belts have been required for basically my entire life and I, nor anyone else I know, think twice about them. But here it’s being used as a familiar pain point the author assumes everyone deals with.

connicpu 2y ago
I'm reminded of a clip that went viral a couple years ago with footage from the 80s containing people describing the recent expansion of DUI laws as "Communist"[1] [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcQIoh3FQQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcQIoh3FQQ
danielscrubs 2y ago
Fun fact, Volvo created and patented the three point safety belt in use today after years of R&D and testing expenses, but immediately made it free for all other car makers. I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. I can’t imagine for example a VC backed company doing that. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-storytelling-triathlon-three-disciplines-one-goal/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-...?
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- edanm 2y ago
  I mean, a modern example might be the various companies open-sourcing LLMs (e.g. Meta). I don't think "public-mindedness" is exactly the right explanation, it's probably driven by strategic thinking... but then, maybe the same was true of Volvo.
- mingusrude 2y ago
  In the same vein, at Volvo's factory outside of Gothenburg they have the obligatory museum. It's just that they don't showcase old, famous models. The museum is entirely built around car safety and how Volvo has worked with it. It is interesting with a company that has been so dedicated to their core values for such a long time.
  - euroderf 2y ago
    Aren't Volvos the cars that are (or were) so rigid that collision shocks were transmitted rather too directly to passengers ?
    - Sharlin 2y ago
      I think that was a problem with many if not most cars before modern energy-dissipating crumple zones were developed. The front was built rigid to prevent the engine block from entering the cockpit and crushing the driver/passenger (which was a big safety problem at some point) but turns out that too much rigidity wasn't a good idea either…
- throwaway2037 2y ago
  > I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. Didn't Tesla give away all of their patents at some point?
  - mjevans 2y ago
    Offhand, they made the charging system related patents free to use because a standard charging system is a great thing for any vehicle.
    - WhyNotHugo 2y ago
      Doesn’t this fall under “commoditise your complement”? It’s good business for Tesla to do so.
    - throwaway2037 2y ago
      Dumb question. How exactly do you make something "patent free"? Do you get the patent (so no one else can troll with it), the promise not to enforce "violations"?
- fmajid 2y ago
  They used to advertise the fact their CEO's wife was a nurse, and she lobbied them to prioritize safety.
  - fmajid 2y ago
    Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo Some more background: https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-rest-in-the-safety-of-a-volvo-car/ https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-re...
- switch007 2y ago
  If SV developed seatbelts: SaaS - seatbelts as a service, available in 3 packages: - Starter: 4 tightenings* per day, $2.99/mo - Standard: 6 tightenings* per day, $5.99/mo - Premium: unlimited** tightenings, $9.99/mo *Once exceeded, belt will remain slack. Check your local laws. We will not be held liable **Subject to a fair usage policy. Policy may change at any time. Please check before driving All plans support a maximum of 2 occupants. Please subscribe to additional plans for more occupants.
ryandrake 2y ago
Definitely an artifact of its time. I have older family members who still resent seatbelt laws, who still have those "buckle only" defeat devices that stop the chiming. "The government can't tell me what to do" can be such a deeply ingrained attitude!
- yellowapple 2y ago
  It ain't just older people, either. A lot of friends in my age group and younger default to not putting on their seatbelts, and only do so if I explicitly tell them to do so (or if they notice my truck beeping about it).
  - pests 2y ago
    My state doesn't require rear belts but I still wear mine when sitting in the back and encourage others to do the same. My sibling had a classmate in high school who got thrown out of the rear window while the car was in a roll, crushing and killing him. It's a little crazy to me that people are perfectly comfortable going 80+ down the freeway with no belts on in the back. Like the two seat backs are enough. It reminds me of the "no smoking sections" in restaurant that were sectioned off by a half wall.
    - Symbiote 2y ago
      I would refuse to start or continue a journey if any passenger behind our beside me won't wear their seat belt. Old UK safety video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWLmoeoHrP4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWLmoeoHrP4
      - fingerlocks 2y ago
        I don’t understand what happened in that video. Are we supposed to believe that the front seat will somehow move forward from the force of the rear passenger hitting it? And this force will be so great that it will crush the front driver’s skull against the steering wheel? Is that really the take-away here? If so, that’s a PSA about poor engineering and design of the driver seat and less about rear passenger seat belt safety.
throwaway2037 2y ago
> It’s interesting how the seat belt comment sets the time this was written. I was surprised by this comment, as the PDF version that I read was undated. During my search, I found there is a whole Wiki page dedicated to this paper! Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_10:_Rules_for_Developing_Safety-Critical_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_10:_Rules_for_Dev... That Wiki page says 2006.
patrick451 2y ago
I still find seatbelt laws to be one of the most ridiculous examples of government overreach. People think the government shouldn't be in their bedroom, but for some inexplicable reason have no problem with the government being inside their car.
- throwaway2037 2y ago
  I am struggling to take this comment seriously. How do you feel about requiring minors (< 18yrs old in most places) to wear a seat belt? Do you also think that crash test safety is an overreach of gov't... or speed limits?

by pests 2y ago

connicpu 2y ago

I'm reminded of a clip that went viral a couple years ago with footage from the 80s containing people describing the recent expansion of DUI laws as "Communist"[1] [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcQIoh3FQQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcQIoh3FQQ

danielscrubs 2y ago

Fun fact, Volvo created and patented the three point safety belt in use today after years of R&D and testing expenses, but immediately made it free for all other car makers. I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. I can’t imagine for example a VC backed company doing that. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-storytelling-triathlon-three-disciplines-one-goal/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-...?

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
edanm 2y ago
I mean, a modern example might be the various companies open-sourcing LLMs (e.g. Meta). I don't think "public-mindedness" is exactly the right explanation, it's probably driven by strategic thinking... but then, maybe the same was true of Volvo.
mingusrude 2y ago
In the same vein, at Volvo's factory outside of Gothenburg they have the obligatory museum. It's just that they don't showcase old, famous models. The museum is entirely built around car safety and how Volvo has worked with it. It is interesting with a company that has been so dedicated to their core values for such a long time.
- euroderf 2y ago
  Aren't Volvos the cars that are (or were) so rigid that collision shocks were transmitted rather too directly to passengers ?
  - Sharlin 2y ago
    I think that was a problem with many if not most cars before modern energy-dissipating crumple zones were developed. The front was built rigid to prevent the engine block from entering the cockpit and crushing the driver/passenger (which was a big safety problem at some point) but turns out that too much rigidity wasn't a good idea either…
throwaway2037 2y ago
> I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. Didn't Tesla give away all of their patents at some point?
- mjevans 2y ago
  Offhand, they made the charging system related patents free to use because a standard charging system is a great thing for any vehicle.
  - WhyNotHugo 2y ago
    Doesn’t this fall under “commoditise your complement”? It’s good business for Tesla to do so.
  - throwaway2037 2y ago
    Dumb question. How exactly do you make something "patent free"? Do you get the patent (so no one else can troll with it), the promise not to enforce "violations"?
fmajid 2y ago
They used to advertise the fact their CEO's wife was a nurse, and she lobbied them to prioritize safety.
- fmajid 2y ago
  Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo Some more background: https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-rest-in-the-safety-of-a-volvo-car/ https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-re...
switch007 2y ago
If SV developed seatbelts: SaaS - seatbelts as a service, available in 3 packages: - Starter: 4 tightenings* per day, $2.99/mo - Standard: 6 tightenings* per day, $5.99/mo - Premium: unlimited** tightenings, $9.99/mo *Once exceeded, belt will remain slack. Check your local laws. We will not be held liable **Subject to a fair usage policy. Policy may change at any time. Please check before driving All plans support a maximum of 2 occupants. Please subscribe to additional plans for more occupants.

ryandrake 2y ago

Definitely an artifact of its time. I have older family members who still resent seatbelt laws, who still have those "buckle only" defeat devices that stop the chiming. "The government can't tell me what to do" can be such a deeply ingrained attitude!

yellowapple 2y ago
It ain't just older people, either. A lot of friends in my age group and younger default to not putting on their seatbelts, and only do so if I explicitly tell them to do so (or if they notice my truck beeping about it).
- pests 2y ago
  My state doesn't require rear belts but I still wear mine when sitting in the back and encourage others to do the same. My sibling had a classmate in high school who got thrown out of the rear window while the car was in a roll, crushing and killing him. It's a little crazy to me that people are perfectly comfortable going 80+ down the freeway with no belts on in the back. Like the two seat backs are enough. It reminds me of the "no smoking sections" in restaurant that were sectioned off by a half wall.
  - Symbiote 2y ago
    I would refuse to start or continue a journey if any passenger behind our beside me won't wear their seat belt. Old UK safety video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWLmoeoHrP4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWLmoeoHrP4
    - fingerlocks 2y ago
      I don’t understand what happened in that video. Are we supposed to believe that the front seat will somehow move forward from the force of the rear passenger hitting it? And this force will be so great that it will crush the front driver’s skull against the steering wheel? Is that really the take-away here? If so, that’s a PSA about poor engineering and design of the driver seat and less about rear passenger seat belt safety.

throwaway2037 2y ago

> It’s interesting how the seat belt comment sets the time this was written. I was surprised by this comment, as the PDF version that I read was undated. During my search, I found there is a whole Wiki page dedicated to this paper! Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_10:_Rules_for_Developing_Safety-Critical_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_10:_Rules_for_Dev... That Wiki page says 2006.

patrick451 2y ago

I still find seatbelt laws to be one of the most ridiculous examples of government overreach. People think the government shouldn't be in their bedroom, but for some inexplicable reason have no problem with the government being inside their car.

throwaway2037 2y ago
I am struggling to take this comment seriously. How do you feel about requiring minors (< 18yrs old in most places) to wear a seat belt? Do you also think that crash test safety is an overreach of gov't... or speed limits?