Put Safety Features Ahead of Speed

“A Lonely Quest for Safer Cars” (Feb. 12) raises many specious arguments while bypassing the point: 26,000 Americans are mangled or killed in rollover accidents each year.

Manufacturers do not offer roll bars or five-point seat belts as options to car buyers. Do we know how to protect drivers in rollover accidents? Sure. Look at the stock-car racers. How about a stronger roof with an inch or two more headroom with better seat support and multipoint seat belts? Drivers may spend a few dollars for real safety--if offered. All cars can roll over in an accident.

David B. Hargreaves

Torrance

*

While reading about reinforcing automobile roofs, I thought about all of the people under 21 years of age who died in the last year as their cars left the roadway at 100-plus mph. Has anyone ever thought why we need cars that go this fast and how many lives might have been saved if cars were limited in their top-end speed? Last time I checked, the speed limit was 35 mph on the streets and 65 mph on the freeways.

Alan Wolfson

Chatsworth