My favorite thing to hear: We're having a kid, so we're getting an SUV
Due to living near some wealthy towns I see so many people driving massive SUV's around and being absolutely awful at handling them. Without fail they cant back up and park for shit.
I really wish wagons never became so hated in the US because they're way more practical than your giant ass Navigator
Having lived in the country... (like KKK Grand Wizard down the street.)
No. Their roads are better than any city's. A gravel road would wash out occasionally, but you are not traversing anything requiring clearance. Minivan was what most people bought because it was the most practical/economical.
An extreme comparison, but is it the guns fault when somebody gets shot? Or the shooters fault?
Obviously the shooters' fault for shooting, but that doesnt mean that we cant do anything to prevent a gun from being sold to certain people / that doesn't mean we cant do more for automobile safety regarding SUV's.
SUVs should be banned. They serve literally zero benefit for the vast majority of owners. They're terrible for the environment. They're a hazard to pedestrians. Just awful.
My favorite thing to hear: We're having a kid, so we're getting an SUV
Due to living near some wealthy towns I see so many people driving massive SUV's around and being absolutely awful at handling them. Without fail they cant back up and park for shit.
I really wish wagons never became so hated in the US because they're way more practical than your giant ass Navigator
A Detroit Free Press/USA TODAY NETWORK investigation found that the SUV revolution is a key, leading cause of escalating pedestrian deaths nationwide, which are up 46 percent since 2009.
Almost 6,000 pedestrians died on or along U.S. roads in 2016 alone — nearly as many Americans as have died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002. Data analyses by the Free Press/USA TODAY and others show that SUVs are the constant in the increase and account for a steadily growing proportion of deaths.
Our investigation found:
Federal safety regulators have known for years that SUVs, with their higher front-end profile, are at least twice as likely as cars to kill the walkers, joggers and children they hit, yet have done little to reduce deaths or publicize the danger.
A federal proposal to factor pedestrians into vehicle safety ratings has stalled, with opposition from some automakers.
The rising tide of pedestrian deaths is primarily an urban plague that kills minorities at a disproportionate rate.
It is most prominent in cities both in the industrial heartland and warm-weather spots on the nation’s coasts and Sun Belt. Detroit; Newark, New Jersey; St. Louis; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Miami, San Bernardino, California, Birmingham, Alabama; Tampa; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Phoenix had the 10 highest per-capita death rates among cities with populations of at least 200,000 in 2009-16.
Vehicle safety measures, which the federal government says could save hundreds of pedestrian lives every year, are available but not widely employed by some automakers — nor are they required.
Extremely detailed report. Worth a read. (You will have to turn off content blockers to see the tables and charts)
Meanwhile, this is what the folks at the NHTSA - the agency responsible for saving lives - has been up to.
The government knows that the design of SUVs is responsible for the sky-rocketing number of deaths among pedestrians - especially minorities - but because SUVs are where the money is, they've done nothing.
Whats the over/under on a reply that completely ignores the data to jump in and rant about that one time a pedestrian was on their phone and omg it makes me so mad it's their own fault darwin lol
Yes. It is always evil corporate overlords. We would have been so much better off if the reactionaries Adam evidently favors succeeded in banning automobiles. Or, you know, the more mundane explanations of "safety" and "traffic flow" and "progress" might be reasonable explanations too. But when you have a perfectly good corporation to villify, why look for other explanations?
That video is cringy on so many levels. I don't really believe that he could believe the ridiculous crap he is spouting, such as encouraging pedestrian safety being "blame shifting." There's probably some truth to it, historically speaking, but he takes it to an absurd level.
The thing that bugs me is the pick-up trucks around my area. Everyone wants to own a pick-up truck, but only a very few people actually are doing any kind of pick-up truck related work.
Having lived in the country... (like KKK Grand Wizard down the street.)
No. Their roads are better than any city's. A gravel road would wash out occasionally, but you are not traversing anything requiring clearance. Minivan was what most people bought because it was the most practical/economical.
Difference is significant. You are in a vehicle that is twice as heavy for no other reason.
Some of the problems are that buyers are seeing SUV's as safer *for them*, as they're a bit taller and you can see further down the road and ahead of the car in front of you a lot of the time, and this weird "if I'm in a sedan and an SUV hits me I may die so I need to even the odds" mentality. This influences what cars people buy or upgrade to.
To make things worse, often times SUV's are where the most "value" is for the money when it comes to safety features, cargo space, amenities, and (increasingly) fuel efficiency for what you pay for. My sister bought an SUV after she got pregnant the second time because compared to a minivan it seems like a better deal. (Key word SEEMS)
Hell, even I've been thinking about getting one because I often times can't fit things into my car, don't have friends that can help, and don't have money to rent a truck or pay for delivery- AND looking at other cars and sedans with features to increase space like rear folding seats still can't accommodate.
Basically the way cars are being designed and sold is heavily stacked in favor of SUV's so it's no wonder why so many people have them these days regardless of what they *need*. I'm not excusing them or trying to downplay the crisis, but it's worth noting that it's a bit more nuanced than "the just want a big cool vehicle and don't care about pedestrians".
You don't need a god damn lincoln navigator for two kids, or at all for that matter. I'd much rather a hatchback or shit I'd even drive a mini-van before some obnoxious ass SUV.
Edit: I have no issue with smaller 'hybrid'-ish SUV's like the Element (RIP) and Forrester. It's more with the massive beheamoths like the Navigator, Pilot, Yukon, etc
While I don't doubt being hit with an SUV is more likely fatal, it seems that just bad pedestrian infrastructure is likely underlying it all. How to reduce SUVs is simply how do you reduce cars? In traffic vs traffic of course you'd pick SUVs because they are big cars likely to withstand impact of other big cars.
Yeah, I'm sure it'll be much better for pedestrians and the environment, etc.... if I buy two cars instead just one that serves all my needs. Stupid fucking article. Also, modern SUVs are built on car style unibodies, use lightweight materials and fuel efficient engines. The difference in weight between, for example, a Mercedes C-Class sedan and the GLC SUV is practically nothing.
I am 2m tall. I cannot drive any SUV without my knees being in the steering wheel. I have way more leg room in your average sedan/hatchback (prius is OMG leg room!), the seating position is much better.
The thing that bugs me is the pick-up trucks around my area. Everyone wants to own a pick-up truck, but only a very few people actually are doing any kind of pick-up truck related work.
I would love to have one, but my days of doing work on the farm during harvest are over a decade behind me. My Honda gets the job done and saves me a lot of money at the tank, while being a smooth ride to boot. I just wish it was a bit easier to park and it'd be perfect.
Yes. It is always evil corporate overlords. We would have been so much better off if the reactionaries Adam evidently favors succeeded in banning automobiles. Or, you know, the more mundane explanations of "safety" and "traffic flow" and "progress" might be reasonable explanations too. But when you have a perfectly good corporation to villify, why look for other explanations?
That video is cringy on so many levels. I don't really believe that he could believe the ridiculous crap he is spouting, such as encouraging pedestrian safety being "blame shifting." There's probably some truth to it, historically speaking, but he takes it to an absurd level.
At the end of the episode he and some experts they brought on talk about focusing on building cities that focus on public transportation, walking, and biking rather than cars.
You don't need a god damn lincoln navigator for two kids, or at all for that matter. I'd much rather a hatchback or shit I'd even drive a mini-van before some obnoxious ass SUV.
Edit: I have no issue with smaller 'hybrid'-ish SUV's like the Element (RIP) and Forrester. It's more with the massive beheamoths like the Navigator, Pilot, Yukon, etc
I don’t have any kids and I love my Expedition. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. I haven’t hit anyone yet and I drive way more carefully in the Expedition than I do my Mazda 6. But I will redouble my efforts and drive extra careful with the big truck. Last thing I would ever want is to hit anything let alone a person.
There is also the 'I need a truck because.... I might need to move things somewhere one day', when the car rental place will rent a moving truck for 9 dollars a day.
Reading this and a couple of other articles I found about this from this year, and it seems really disingenuous to try and pinpoint SUVs as some sort of root cause. A factor, sure, as the higher profile changing sight lines is of course common sense, and definitely agree that safety ratings and information should be held accountable for not addressing pedestrian safety.
But this thread is attempting to streamline this issue in a way that seems very inaccurate
I live in the burbs and I use my truck literally every weekend to haul things around for various projects I'm working on. I couldn't get by without a truck, so every time I tell someone I need my truck and they roll their eyes, I roll my eyes back. As far as I'm aware I haven't hit and killed anyone yet either.
I think it's the Swiss army knife, Jack of all trades, "better have it and not need it then need it and not have it" aspect. X vehicle may have more space but it gives up Y in order to do it. Etc etc.
People are hoping to get as much out of the vehicle as possible and an SUV seems flexible in it's day to day use as time goes on and your kids get older, or your needs change, etc. Buying a new car every so often as your needs change isn't a tenable strategy for most of the current SUV buyers which seem to increasingly be lower middle and lower class people.
We need more of these hybrid (design, not engine) vehicles from car makers to help stifle this issue. By the time my car dies and it's time for a new one I hope there's more options out there for me. Luckily I'm not looking to have kids anytime soon nor is my girlfriend.
There is also the 'I need a truck because.... I might need to move things somewhere one day', when the car rental place will rent a moving truck for 9 dollars a day.
I live in the burbs and I use my truck literally every weekend to haul things around for various projects I'm working on. I couldn't get by without a truck, so every time I tell someone I need my truck and they roll their eyes, I roll my eyes back. As far as I'm aware I haven't hit and killed anyone yet either.
My gauge of "are they using it" is based on how beat up the bed is, or if they have a ball hitch. I've seen a fair share of Ford extended cabs & beds with multi-point balls on the hitch that look god damn spotless.
I hate hate hate driving behind them and the vast majority of their drivers are complete idiots
Edit : and whenever some idiot is tailgating me, itls always one of those. Nevermind when I slow down to get back to a safety distance between myself and the car in front of me and they et all angry about it.
I think it's the Swiss army knife, Jack of all trades, "better have it and not need it then need it and not have it" aspect. X vehicle may have more space but it gives up Y in order to do it. Etc etc.
People are hoping to get as much out of the vehicle as possible and an SUV seems flexible in it's day to day use as time goes on and your kids get older, or your needs change, etc. Buying a new car every so often as your needs change isn't a tenable strategy for most of the current SUV buyers which seem to increasingly be lower middle and lower class people.
We need more of these hybrid (design, not engine) vehicles from car makers to help stifle this issue. By the time my car dies and it's time for a new one I hope there's more options out there for me. Luckily I'm not looking to have kids anytime soon nor is my girlfriend.
The real answer is having all cities adopt Vision Zero, which includes lowering the speed limit within cities in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic to 20 mph.
The real answer is having all cities adopt Vision Zero, which includes lowering the speed limit within cities in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic to 20 mph.
Living in Michigan, a large SUV will always be my vehicle of choice. The winters are brutal so I need the 4 wheel drive. I sometimes pull a trailer so I need the power. I need the interior room for kayaks and outdoor equipment. I need 3rd row seating for taking my kids and their friends to soccer practice, swim lessons, play rehearsal, and gymnastics. All that space comes in super handy all the time. Lay those seats down and you can fit most anything inside. I will never go back to a car.
The real answer is having all cities adopt Vision Zero, which includes lowering the speed limit within cities in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic to 20 mph.
Living in Michigan, a large SUV will always be my vehicle of choice. The winters are brutal so I need the 4 wheel drive. I sometimes pull a trailer so I need the power. I need the interior room for kayaks and outdoor equipment. I need 3rd row seating for taking my kids and their friends to soccer practice, swim lessons, play rehearsal, and gymnastics. All that space comes in super handy all the time. Lay those seats down and you can fit most anything inside. I will never go back to a car.
I'm a Mustang driver and I can't tell you how many times an SUV driver has felt it to make it their duty to try and race me, it happens all the time. I'll be sitting at a red light and a SUV pulls up, and the light turns green and the guy stomps on his gas pedal, determined to beat me off the line, I just go "okay buddy", I have no interest in racing you. The worst ones are the guys that do that then get in front of you and slow way down. Not sure what it is but so many people feel the need to screw with Mustangs/Camaros/Corvettes.
Also as the other guy said drivers of Dodge pick up trucks seem to be the biggest assholes on the road, my dad floated this theory to me aways back and I eventually noticed he was right. They take off at lights, fly around corners, weave in and out of traffic, merge with no regard, etc. All the while refusing to use their signals. I have tried to observe the same behavior in Silverados and F-150s, but it's not possible, because for whatever reason drivers of those trucks just don't drive the way Dodge Ram drivers do. It's a phenomenon I don't fully understand really.
SUV drivers seem to be the worst drivers on the road, they either drive like they are in a Corvette, or they drive like they are in a 5 year olds' Power Wheels, slow as snot. Most people don't seem to be aware of just how big their SUVs are either, or how heavy they are. Also nothing worse than parking at a store and coming out and some hugemongous SUV decided to park next to you, and now you have to back out of the parking spot pretty much completely blind because you can't see around the damned thing.
I disagree. From my experience as someone who works in the driving industry, drivers of SUVs tend to be much safer than the psychos driving big pickup trucks.
Hell, even I've been thinking about getting one because I often times can't fit things into my car, don't have friends that can help, and don't have money to rent a truck or pay for delivery- AND looking at other cars and sedans with features to increase space like rear folding seats still can't accommodate.
To add to this: there should be separate parking for trucks and SUVs. I know it's not feasible, but trying to exit a parking space when a truck or SUV decides to park next to you makes the lot way more dangerous than it already is .
If people parked correctly it'd be a non issue. There's enough space in nearly every parking lot I've seen where it doesn't matter if it's a suv or car it's just people park too far on one side.
Easier to hit things with sure, but I'll swear on my deathbed that a rear wheel drive pickup is a smoother driving experience than any car I've driven.
SUVs are the cause of more pedestrian deaths because of their size, and how they block the view of other drivers. This is obvious.
Don't blame the pedestrians, they're the actual victims here. Distracted driving is a also a major cause of pedestrian deaths, but this article is about SUVs.
It does kind of suck. I don't mind driving around smaller ones (like the honda CRV), but tried to drive around big ones like the escalade etc are a real pain in the ass. Like trying to make a turn and them right beside you, blocking your view, etc.
I'm not sure what can be done about the pedestrian problem... people seem to love their big vehicles in the US. I hate how trucks are getting so large now too. If it were me I would love a small truck, like those old mazda B series ones from the 90s.
I'm a Mustang driver and I can't tell you how many times an SUV driver has felt it to make it their duty to try and race me, it happens all the time. I'll be sitting at a red light and a SUV pulls up, and the light turns green and the guy stomps on his gas pedal, determined to beat me off the line, I just go "okay buddy", I have no interest in racing you. The worst ones are the guys that do that then get in front of you and slow way down. Not sure what it is but so many people feel the need to screw with Mustangs/Camaros/Corvettes.
Also as the other guy said drivers of Dodge pick up trucks seem to be the biggest assholes on the road, my dad floated this theory to me aways back and I eventually noticed he was right. They take off at lights, fly around corners, weave in and out of traffic, merge with no regard, etc. All the while refusing to use their signals. I have tried to observe the same behavior in Silverados and F-150s, but it's not possible, because for whatever reason drivers of those trucks just don't drive the way Dodge Ram drivers do. It's a phenomenon I don't fully understand really.
I dunno what it's like where you live but down here Mustangs have always been known as "well off baby WASP's first car". High school kids and college kids driving them, and usually doing stupid ass shit in them. Everyone around here has that one mustang story. It's like a right of passage lol
Id argue that you have a responsibility to look after yourself when their is literal tonnes of Metal being propelled all around you. Maybe take your dumbass head out of your phone for a second when crossing the road. Not you personally of course.
