Word: interlock
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Though it is intended to save them from injury or worse, many motorists resent the "interlock" system on 1974 cars, which prevents the engine from starting until the driver and all front-seat passengers have buckled their seat belts. Impressed by the volume and vehemence of constituent mail on the subject, House members voted two weeks ago 339 to 49 to tack onto a Department of Transportation appropriations bill an amendment that would kill the requirement that cars be equipped with an interlock system (and also the annoying buzzer that sounds when a seat belt is unfastened; only a warning...
Beltsville Turkey. As a consequence of the new "interlock" system, up to 60% of drivers and front-seat passengers in new cars are now belting in. However, thousands of new-car owners are increasingly frustrated by the new system. Because any weight on the front seat activates the system, he, she or it must be buckled in before the car will start. Newspaper Columnist George Will recently bought a 22-lb. Beltsville turkey, plopped it in the front seat and found that to get his car moving, he had to belt the Beltsville. Drivers become livid when they...
Those who refuse to wear belts under any circumstances have a host of ingenious ways of deceiving the interlock. Some start the car by leaning in the window and turning the ignition key (with no weight on the front seat, the starter will kick over). Others accomplish the same deception by grasping the steering wheel and pulling themselves up while turning the key. But with both these techniques, as soon as the driver sits down, the buzzer will go off-unless he fastens his seat belt...
Drivers have gone to outlandish extremes to avoid both belts and buzzers. One Atlanta man unfastens his seat belt, and turns off his hearing aid, as soon as he starts his new Impala. In some garages, mechanics are disconnecting the interlock system at an average...
...arena there is a bizarre, show-offy thing originally built for cattle exhibitions and horse shows. It's made up of a couple of tremendous concrete horseshoes that interlock and support the hanging roof. Inside everything is the barest gray concrete, with dust in the corners, and a great wide concrete floor which that day was only about half filled with chairs. Up front a big American flag stretched above the stage...