In America, they're the bane of environmentalists
The mayor of London called people who drive them "complete idiots" And in France and Sweden, the government is considering a special tax for people who want to buy them, because they pollute the air.
They're SUVs. And despite the bad rap they get, they're pretty popular among motorists. But for the WRONG reason.
According to BBC online, most people buy Sport Utility Vehicles because they think they're safer. SUVs put people high above the road and other cars, making the driver feel more in control and less vulnerable. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that this added height actually makes SUVs LESS stable. In fact, the higher the center of gravity in a vehicle, the more likely it is to roll over. Last year in the U.S., more SUV passengers died in car crashes than those who were riding in smaller cars. Low-slung sport cars, for example, are much safer because they have the speed and agility to avoid trouble.
But it's important to note that SUV's are safer today than when they were first made.
And a bad driver can make any car dangerous, big or small. So I'm not saying that SUVs are evil. But the perception that big and high means safe is simply wrong.
And if you look at how these vehicles were first made, it's not surprising. They started out basically as pick-up trucks with the back covered for passengers. In 1996, Ford had the bright idea of converting its F-150 from a truck to what it would call the "Explorer" it's first SUV. They thought it would be a good money-maker because trucks are cheaper to make than cars. So, at its plant in Detroit, the transformation - and history, was made.
These days, SUVs are built better and bring in huge profits for car makers. But their success has a lot to do with faulty psychology. No matter how you slice it, SUVs are not safer. They just FEEL like they are.
They're SUVs. And despite the bad rap they get, they're pretty popular among motorists. But for the WRONG reason.
According to BBC online, most people buy Sport Utility Vehicles because they think they're safer. SUVs put people high above the road and other cars, making the driver feel more in control and less vulnerable. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that this added height actually makes SUVs LESS stable. In fact, the higher the center of gravity in a vehicle, the more likely it is to roll over. Last year in the U.S., more SUV passengers died in car crashes than those who were riding in smaller cars. Low-slung sport cars, for example, are much safer because they have the speed and agility to avoid trouble.
But it's important to note that SUV's are safer today than when they were first made.
And a bad driver can make any car dangerous, big or small. So I'm not saying that SUVs are evil. But the perception that big and high means safe is simply wrong.
And if you look at how these vehicles were first made, it's not surprising. They started out basically as pick-up trucks with the back covered for passengers. In 1996, Ford had the bright idea of converting its F-150 from a truck to what it would call the "Explorer" it's first SUV. They thought it would be a good money-maker because trucks are cheaper to make than cars. So, at its plant in Detroit, the transformation - and history, was made.
These days, SUVs are built better and bring in huge profits for car makers. But their success has a lot to do with faulty psychology. No matter how you slice it, SUVs are not safer. They just FEEL like they are.
