SUV Haters

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding SUV safety -- I thought that there was increased danger of rollover accidents. Is this no longer the case?
if not, what SUVs have very high safety ratings?

Yes, this is one of the ironies of discussions in which SUVs are praised for their alleged safety. Proponents seem to believe that risk is completely limited to one vehicle crashing into another. It is immediately assumed that the heavier vehicle wins. Yet, crash statistics show a much different picture. SUVs have a higher risk of rollover accidents. The NHTSA currently gives both the Suburban and Escalade only three out of five stars for rollover crash tests. The high center of gravity and weight of SUVs make them more difficult to control and, hence, prone to single vehicle accidents. I cited this in a discussion in the old forums, but its worth repeating: In 2003, Jeffrey Runge -- head of the National Highway Safety Administration -- said that SUVs are so dangerous that he wouldn't buy one for his daughter "if it was the last one on Earth."

Just to be clear, much of the rollover danger can be mitigated by gaining driving skills specific to the vehicle type and driving carefully. Unfortunately, many of the SUV drivers with whom we come into contact daily show no sign of either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than for camping, just curious how much stuff you need to haul around with you to require driving a Suburban or Escalade-size SUVs? A stroller, diaper bag, what more?

My three children, three car seats, double stroller. Groceries. Bikes for the park. Luggage for when we go away on weekends. Frankly, I posted way above, but here goes again. I have a Toyota Sequoia and only put abou 6000 miles a year on it. I live in the city and we walk everywhere, including to the supermarket if we don't need a lot of groceries. We walk to school too, and DH takes a bus to work downtown.

I feel no guilt. We love to go skiing in VT and to the mountains of PA in the summer - and we STILL only put 6000 miles a year on our car. I wonder how many miles other people put on their cars here? I would love to know - I have a feeling that some of the most angry and strident people here put a LOT of miles on their cars. We should look at the difference between my family's carbon footprint and theirs!

I won't even get into all the ways we work to save energy in our house. And DH worked many years as a non-profit environmental attorney and I worked for a non-profit environmental group. So I feel no guilt whatsoever and think that there are a LOT of DIFFERENT ways to work to make this world a better place. One of them is NOT to judge people on just one thing like their CAR. Especially on a mom's board where there are lots of big families.

Okay, flame away.

[Anonymous]

In 2003, Jeffrey Runge -- head of the National Highway Safety Administration -- said that SUVs are so dangerous that he wouldn't buy one for his daughter "if it was the last one on Earth."

That's a good enough reason for me to never get one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than for camping, just curious how much stuff you need to haul around with you to require driving a Suburban or Escalade-size SUVs? A stroller, diaper bag, what more?

My three children, three car seats, double stroller. Groceries. Bikes for the park. Luggage for when we go away on weekends. Frankly, I posted way above, but here goes again. I have a Toyota Sequoia and only put abou 6000 miles a year on it. I live in the city and we walk everywhere, including to the supermarket if we don't need a lot of groceries. We walk to school too, and DH takes a bus to work downtown.

I feel no guilt. We love to go skiing in VT and to the mountains of PA in the summer - and we STILL only put 6000 miles a year on our car. I wonder how many miles other people put on their cars here? I would love to know - I have a feeling that some of the most angry and strident people here put a LOT of miles on their cars. We should look at the difference between my family's carbon footprint and theirs!

I won't even get into all the ways we work to save energy in our house. And DH worked many years as a non-profit environmental attorney and I worked for a non-profit environmental group. So I feel no guilt whatsoever and think that there are a LOT of DIFFERENT ways to work to make this world a better place. One of them is NOT to judge people on just one thing like their CAR. Especially on a mom's board where there are lots of big families.

Okay, flame away.

Whatever! Justify it all you want.

[Anonymous]

"there are a LOT of DIFFERENT ways to work to make this world a better place. One of them is NOT to judge people on just one thing like their CAR. Especially on a mom's board where there are lots of big families."


Thank you! I have to say, I am really disturbed that there are so many people that are willing to judge people with such vehemence, based on their car, without knowing any background. Yeah, it is SUV drivers here, but it is only a quick step from judging groups of women, people of different races or economic circumstances -- all based on the actions of one or a few. Think about the message you send your kids. The comments on this thread have made my skin crawl. But, thanks, I guess, because I have also been reminded to recommit myself to being open-minded and teaching my kids to be that way too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"there are a LOT of DIFFERENT ways to work to make this world a better place. One of them is NOT to judge people on just one thing like their CAR. Especially on a mom's board where there are lots of big families."


Thank you! I have to say, I am really disturbed that there are so many people that are willing to judge people with such vehemence, based on their car, without knowing any background. Yeah, it is SUV drivers here, but it is only a quick step from judging groups of women, people of different races or economic circumstances -- all based on the actions of one or a few. Think about the message you send your kids. The comments on this thread have made my skin crawl. But, thanks, I guess, because I have also been reminded to recommit myself to being open-minded and teaching my kids to be that way too.

Yes, it's insane. I think it's an easy target - something for a few people to focus a lot of their anger on! I'm not sure where their anger comes from, but I don't think it's truly from SUVs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than for camping, just curious how much stuff you need to haul around with you to require driving a Suburban or Escalade-size SUVs? A stroller, diaper bag, what more?

My three children, three car seats, double stroller. Groceries. Bikes for the park. Luggage for when we go away on weekends. Frankly, I posted way above, but here goes again. I have a Toyota Sequoia and only put abou 6000 miles a year on it. I live in the city and we walk everywhere, including to the supermarket if we don't need a lot of groceries. We walk to school too, and DH takes a bus to work downtown.

I feel no guilt. We love to go skiing in VT and to the mountains of PA in the summer - and we STILL only put 6000 miles a year on our car. I wonder how many miles other people put on their cars here? I would love to know - I have a feeling that some of the most angry and strident people here put a LOT of miles on their cars. We should look at the difference between my family's carbon footprint and theirs!

I won't even get into all the ways we work to save energy in our house. And DH worked many years as a non-profit environmental attorney and I worked for a non-profit environmental group. So I feel no guilt whatsoever and think that there are a LOT of DIFFERENT ways to work to make this world a better place. One of them is NOT to judge people on just one thing like their CAR. Especially on a mom's board where there are lots of big families.

Okay, flame away.

Whatever! Justify it all you want.

Is that the best you can do? Dismissing someone like that?

I feel sorry for you and your "Whatever!"