INDUSTRY PEOPLE
show there is still plenty of scope for acceptance of health and
having built and successfully flown a much more advanced
safety requirements. The Automobile Association Research
RV8 aircraft, met Bill Luther and Peter Merwood who both
Foundation has waded in on the subject in a
had a similar dream. Bill, Peter and David met
“Seatbelts
are
a
niche
recent study (completed in 2017) on fatalities
on several occasions and as the planning
market,
it’s
not
a
usual
around seatbelt non-use.
developed so did my original dream. When
David suggested I come too, it was too painful thing and I like the whole It found that in a sample of 200 road fatalities
to contemplate staying at home just to watch.” safety aspect and it’s where seat belts were not worn, 75% of the
something a bit out of victims were male, and that a good proportion
Several discussions with Brenda later, Don
the ordinary.”
of the victims were in rural employment.
says he knew he’d been given silent approval
once he drew Australian cash from the bank account and
also came home from the supermarket with muesli bars...the
trans-Tasman snack of champions.
“In the end it was Brenda’s courage with which I was
impressed. I started to feel like the Bull Fighter. All brave
until the bull appears.”
Somewhere along the way our men are not hearing the
message about seatbelt safety. Again, this is likely the last
vestiges of a time when you’d just jump in your ute to get to
the next paddock, and who has time for a seatbelt anyway?
According to Worksafe, roll-over protection has contributed
to a decrease in fatalities, however most of the recent tractor
“David and I occasionally do airshows together “I started to feel like the fatalities could have been prevented by the
in formation and we fly all over the country. Bull Fighter. All brave driver wearing the seat belt.
Both planes have been from Cape Reinga to until the bull appears.” Obviously modern vehicles come with reminder
alarms to buckle up, but there is still clearly
the Bluff in one day, which is five fuel stops on
something in our overall national psyche that prevents us
the way.”
from admitting that something could go horribly wrong, and if
Don’s foray into invention initially took place from home.
only we’d been wearing a seatbelt.
In a workroom and garage, it’s truly the “invention shed”
scenario. However, as the popularity of the Springbelt grew,
so did pressure to fulfill orders.
“I realised that I couldn’t sustain the business, as every day
I’d rush downstairs and grab some items and try to get them
on the courier and it was hard work and I thought “I can’t do
this forever”. As a last resort, I rang a guy in Christchurch who
I had met at a convention in Australia and he manufactures
and markets seatbelts for all automobiles at a company
called Seatbelt Sales. I wanted to sell part of this business
and I thought it was worth keeping it going. He bought 40%.”
Eddie has fitted well over 10,000 seat belts in cars.
He explains that to the credit of most New Zealand business
that rely on earthmoving or factory-based transportation
(such as forklifts) there has been a major shift in health and
safety policy in workplace