Just to put it in perspective - the SMHEA was, in the 1950s, the first organisation to introduce the mandatory fitting and wearing of seat belts (anywhere) for a large number of vehicles, mostly Landrovers. Their experience was that following this, the number of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents was reduced from a very high figure to zero (except for those not wearing the belts). It is worth noting that none of these vehicles had roll cages, or, for that matter, retracting seat belts, or belts or fitting to ADRS!
Obviously there are exceptions, as shown by the examples quoted earlier, but the statistics do not show that deaths and injuries for rollover accidents are a major concern. Certainly, the statistics show that when fatal accidents are concerned, rollovers are more highly represented in four wheel drives, although I have not seen any figures to suggest that they are high for Defenders, specifically. What is usually glossed over in these figures is that the actual fatal accident rate for four wheel drives is low compared to other types.
And the number of fatalities related to rollovers is very small compared to those related to failure to wear seatbelts or, even more, driver blood alcohol levels.
The situation in offroad competition driving is very different, and here rollover protection is appropriate. And probably also for those who drive on (or off) the road as if they are in a competition. But for most drivers, I suspect the relative lack of body roll control in a Defender frightens them from undertaking driving that is likely to result in a rollover. (Probably should exclude from this a low speed lying on its side offroad - but this is unlikely to result in death or serious injury provided a seat belt is worn and you keep your arms in the vehicle.)
John
