More on SUVs

An article on AOL Autos, on the new (2011) Ford Explorer SUV reminds us of all the news that surrounded the Explorer a decade ago, when there were many rollover accidents involving Explorers and resulting in some 150 deaths.

While the tires (Firestone) supplied on the Explorers got a lot of the blame, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) stated, after its investigations into the accidents, that driver error may have been to blame.

The fact is, taller vehicles such as SUVs (all things being equal) have a higher center of gravity and will be more prone to roll over. That's simple and inexorable physics. Presumably many of the people who own and drive SUVs are not prepared to take account of their vehicles' handling characteristics, particularly the vehicles' handling characteristics in an emergency situation.

These owners and drivers are not properly aware that they are not driving cars. They think they've got cars but with the ability to absolutely stick to the road on snow and ice. Many have learned, to their sorrow, that that's not the case.

Also, too many drivers of SUVs—as with other vehicles—can be seen driving while talking on cell phones, maybe making left turns with one hand on the wheel. I am sure any driving teacher tries to tell student drivers that a vehicle is properly controlled only with both hands on the wheel. I think that, particularly in the case of SUVs, you have a perhaps three-ton lethal weapon which is not being properly controlled.

So, given drivers' ignorance of SUVs' characteristics or their disregard of those vehicle characteristics, I think there is a job of education that needs to be done. As I said, some of the larger SUVs weigh three tons. They can be deadly weapons, given the harm that can occur to a smaller vehicle when it is hit by a monster SUV, and need to be driven with more responsibility.

Copyright © 2010 by Richard Stein