During my daily perusing of the Blogging Baby headlines, I ran across a story about how SUVs aren’t any safer (particularly for the children riding in them) than your average car. What I don’t get is why they’re just figuring this out now.? Living in Reno for the past 12 years, I’ve noticed one thing:? The first cars you see rolled off in a ditch during and after snowstorms are ALWAYS SUVs.
Sure, SUVs roll over easier than a $10 hooker, but I think a lot of it has to do with the overconfidence of the driver.? They have four-wheel drive, they’re driving a monster; no reason they can’t go the speed limit (or faster) in icy conditions, right?? *SNORT*
Four-wheel drive does not equal invincibility, people.? It’s a handy tool for getting out of a sticky situation, and that’s about it.? But unless you’re living out in the boonies or somewhere where 10 feet of snow at a time is the norm, front-wheel drive does the job just as well.? And here’s a thought: if the weather is bad, slow down.? It works, trust me.? And you’ll be more likely to get there in one piece.
Anyhow, it’s no secret I’m disdainful of SUVs.? And I’ve always thought that those that have them because they’re supposedly so safe were a little foolhardy.? It’s nice to have proof to back it? up though. I’ll be SO glad when the SUV fad passes.
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Fuzzy 01.04.06 at 3:37 pm
Ah, the anti-SUV movement strikes again. I don’t understand why people care so much what others drive. ‘The study showed that whatever safety benefits which come from increased size and weight are counterbalanced by the danger of rolling over common to most SUVs.’ Keep your tire air pressure right and don’t speed. Simple enough. Worth the ‘risk’ to me. JMO
callistawolf (33 comments.) 01.04.06 at 4:01 pm
You’re welcome to that opinion, sweets. *hugs* It’s just a pet peeve of mine. SUVs are top heavy and are more likely to roll than your average sedan. Speeding just exaggerates that. Reno has more SUVs per capita than any other city. So I see a LOT of these on a daily basis and a lot of people who get them use “safe” as an excuse but the real reason is “it looks so cool”. *shrug* Like I said, it’s a pet peeve, I just can’t wait for the “fad” to end.
Fuzzy 01.05.06 at 8:06 am
Yeah, I understand. And of course you are welcome to your opinion too *hug* The ‘movement’ comment was referring to the article. I personally don’t think they look cool. They look like a boat on wheels. Drive like one too. And woe to the car wanting to turn left with an SUV coming the opposite direction and turning left. Actually, woe to anyone. You can’t see around them. But it’s no different than trying to see around a minivan or huge truck (of which there are a zillion around here) so oh well. Yeah, I can get being sick of them as a trend. But for me in my situation (normal suburbian street driving), We are safer in one. I’ve been hit in a sedan and in a SUV. I chose the SUV. *shrug* To each her own
*hug*
Denise 01.05.06 at 12:13 pm
I say drive whatever the hell you want…but only drive it because you want to. Don’t qualify it to me that “we had a baby so we NEED a minivan” or we NEED an SUV, etc.
If you need one for your job (surveyor perhaps) etc, fine…but don’t make excuses for driving what you want to drive.
Just drive, dude. (and do it slowly and safely for god’s sake!!)
My MIL thinks she needs a 4WD vehicle for the ice/snow. I’ve said millions of times that she’s better off in her FWD car. But she does not believe me (b/c she doesn’t know how to drive her car in that weather). She is in the ditch 2x a year in her car, she’ll hurt herself in an ‘invincible’ SUV.
Just drive, dude, and love what you drive. But don’t make excuses for owning it.
callistawolf (33 comments.) 01.05.06 at 1:08 pm
Good attitude, Denise.
Hear, hear to all that you said. 
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