From: unglenie@ford.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J Unglenieks)
Subject: Re: Testing    was("... man tends to be lazy")
Keywords: hunting sex beer false analogy ethics straw
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 07:02:34 GMT

Robert J Unglenieks writes:
>=> existing structure to prevent that type of injury.  I suspect the data is 
>=> used more in litigation cases, i.e., "You could not have sustained that 
>=> severe of an injury, we have this data...."

Contents may have settled during Shipping writes:
>You suspect?  You Suspect!  

Ooops, sorry.  "I suspect" is a RobUism for "in my opinion".  Let's look at
a few of the notorious tests.  Head bashing - seems to only simulate impacts
with components (I wonder:  why would the head hit a component?  redesign
component's performance).  Liver impact - similar to head bashing (same
analysis).  Exposed heart impact - seems to determine that exposed heart 
impacts kills (how valid is the data if the heart is covered by the ribcage?)
I'm not sure what toxicology tests are done.

>Well, since you claim to be in the same industry, why don't you ask.

I have.  Usually you get a form letter, complete with former Chairman's name,
or talk with a project engineer who isn't aware they use animals.

>=> One thing I would really like to see is someone like a GM form a database
>=> using all physicians and medical examiner reports from crashes to figure out
>=> the types of trauma and causes.  However, I think this runs smack into the
>=> wall of doctor/patient confidentiality and poor record keeping.
>
>If you're really interested, why don't you do some real research into
>the field, instead of just spouting falsehoods on the net.
>
>Here, I'll give you the first contact:  The Maryland Shock Trauma
>Center.  Located in Baltimore.  MD is the only state with a state wide
>system of trauma centers, all coordinated from a central location.
>*Every* accident is investigated and recorded.

Which is great.  Now how about expanding that data to all 50 states and making
it accessable to everyone, include follow-ups, and also include analysis of
the accident scene (i.e., dynamics of accident) and reports of type of damage
to vehicle/vehicles involved.

There is work that is going on to use the GPS system to accurately plot the
accident scene for future reconstruction.  However, in the "cost conscious"
world of law enforcement, this type of system is a luxury.  If GM were to
take some of their money out of animal tests and donate such systems to
the agencies, they could save in the long run.  "You could only have been
involved in this type of accident if you were speeding and...." would
dramatically help them in tort cases.

>MD. was the first entity to discover that "rabbit" belts without lap
>belts hurt more than they help.

And any engineer (or person for that matter) could tell you that a five
point or six point harness would be even better.  However, "cost" or
convenience is cited as the reasons they aren't implemented.

Rob U
--
-       Rob Unglenieks             REAL race cars DON'T wear BOWTIES       -
-  "It is the foreign element that commits our crimes.   There is no       -
-   native criminal class except Congress."  [Samuel Langhorne Clemens]    -
-  (Don't look at me, I DIDN'T vote for Clinton.  Will Engineer For Food)  -
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