Blog of a discontent conforming noncomformist

I read this article in the Holland Sentinel today defending the right of people to drive SUVs. Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with SUVs, they can be great tools when used responsibly. The problem is the people who drive them.

The mentality of some of the people who drive can really get scary. It is true that they have places to go and things to do. So does everyone else on the road. But a growing number of SUV drivers seem to think that their needs are greater than everyone else's. It is true that they can get going faster than other vehicles in the snow. That does not mean that they can stop faster. A SUV simply has a much greater mas than a smaller vehicle and , in a collision, has the potential to do a lot more damage. That four wheel drive capability will not save you from going in the ditch, contrary to popular belief. Also, contrary to popular belief, a person driving a SUV does not have the right to intimidate other drivers into getting out of their way. Faster traffic does not always have the right of way.

Quite a few SUV drivers say that they feel safer in their larger vehicles. With that, I will not argue. They just don't consider the safety of others sharing the road with them. This includes the smaller vehicles that other poeple are driving. They don't seem to realize that they are legally responsible for any damage they can cause to another driver that is caused by their actions.

SUVs are great tools when doing what they are designed to do. Large families who have a lot of things to haul around are a good example of that. But thay have to keep in mind that hauling a lot of stuff means extra weight and extra stopping distance.

Here is a link to SUV Owners of America.