So, is there a specific percentage that semis would have to reach at which point you would complain about them? And what percentage did SUVs/pickups attain that created the grief for you? Just curious where you draw your lines.

 

Did I ignore you arguments? No, I just said that Bigger causes more damage...Odd I thouth thats what you were arguing. We have no argument there. My point is you can avoid that risk AND CHOSE NOT TO.

Only person trolling is the claiming they are not arguing, and that they are not political even though they call for regulation and government intervention.

The only beef you have with me is that i would not regulate more or remove choices from the consumer. They have the ultimate decision what they will buy. If there are SUVs and big vehicles on the road and you are afraid of them..purchase a similiar sized vehicle. If not bleating, whining or otherwise lamenting in public forums is the action I find ridiculous. The constant insuation its about safety when in fact it avout making you feel better about your vehcle choice. You could have chosen safer(given the current demographic of vehicles out there), but you didn't. Imstead you talk of how the big bad vehicles are dangerous to little ones. If they are such a hazard why would you even consider putting your loved ones in harms way in a little vehicle like the mini? Where you forced to? DId someone stop you from making a safer choice to avoid the delta's of a heavy vehicle.

Semis and commercial trucking are the lower percentage on the road? LOL.. Boy do you ever need to get out. It would be aninteresting comparison commercial road miles logged versus passenger.

Tell me one day you dont see a semi or commercial vehicle that excedes a suv in size...Remember to include mail truck, trash truck, UPS truck, Buses, School Buses. And So if SUV are not out all the time scaring you it ok if the just cause a hazard sometimes?

You brought 2nd hand smoke and it reminds me of those that think that banning smoking in private establishments is the only way to protect them...when all they had to do is not enter. It amazing the people that don't want to take responsibility of their choices with the understanding of the choices others make around them.


Barbs? They are the only thing to get the attention of the self righteous,(me included )

Paul

 

I'm not a statisician, nor will I claim to be one. I just know that from personal experience, I encounter SUVs and pickups in every direction all the time, at least in this area (Washington DC). Semis, on the other hand, are relatively few and far between, except on major shipping routes. Even then, they are completely outnumbered by SUVs & pickups, unless you're driving in the middle of the night.

Besides, semis are not used as recreational vehicles to take the kids to soccer, pick up groceries, etc. They are by and large only used where necessary for utility - shipping... except now that International has entered the fray with their ridiculous XT Family (quote from their site: "Trucks that make a bold statement. Namely, that you rule.").

I am suggesting that the chances of being in an accident with a semi are far less than encountering a truck-based SUV or pickup, which is why I don't think semis are a fair comparison. Again, no statistics to back that up, but surely you understand what I mean.

 

Well that depends on what part of the country you are from.

I think we can all agree that semis are not in the same class and are entitled to a little more slack. Our economy is quite dependent on the semis for movement of goods.

On the other hand, I will remind everyone that semis do have a special set of regs like the requirement of a special license to operate (which we sell for political favor or donation here in IL). Then there are weigh stations, all sorts of extra taxes and lower speed limits, etc. So that line does need to get drawn since it already has been in many ways.

 

Congratulations, you did get my attention. You are also the first person to make my Ignore List. Not that you'll care... but at least I won't have to hear from you any more, unless someone else quotes you... but you'd have to say something worth quoting then, wouldn't you?

Incidentally, plenty of other people have managed to get my attention in this thread through intelligent discussion... but I suppose that point is lost on you.

Later.

 

LOL - OK, Texas notwithstanding (after all, I understand the running joke is that the official state vehicle is the Chevy Surburban).Thanks Electric - nice to see a logical and reasonable reply (in addition to ECONs). It's funny, I never thought I'd want to use the Ignore List, but some people just aren't worth the time.

 

Thank you. Same back to you.

I think we have shown that two people (others as well) can have disagreement without anger, insults or calls for thread locking or deletion.

I suppose this horse has been thoroughly beat. Again I will say I enjoyed the discussion and that I have learned much along the way on both sides of the debate.

I have had this discussion before in other forums and in those discussions and here I have had my eyes opened in some ways. I am sure it would be no surprise that I do own an SUV. It mostly sits in my garage. Two reasons for that being the price of gas and that I just love my MINI so much I can't not drive it. I have been considering dumping the SUV for about a year. Believe it or not, one thing that makes ridding myself of the SUV difficult is that it really is frequently very useful. After I get through this winter I will probably make that move. But just like being an ex-smoker, I will not get all high and mighty and expect others to make the same decision and I will continue to respect and defend the right of others to make whatever judgment they deem appropriate for them.

A theme I have carried throughout my input in this thread is that there is a bias against SUVs that leads to an exaggeration of the evils. I have to admit that I am not completely free of sin on this. Just yesterday I found out that a friend, who is a single woman with no kids, was intending to buy a Hummer H2. I confess one of my initial thoughts was "Oh God, what does she need that for?" But to each his or her own. (My reaction did involve financial consideration since I know she recently left her job and has no replacement yet).

 

I'd add one last thought for both sides of the discussion.

For the PRO SUV side ...

I don't think anyone would argue that making the public safer is a bad thing. In fact, it is the duty of the federal government to protect its citizens, even from themselves. Its seen anywhere from seat belt laws to the government spending everyone's tax monies on vaccine research. All for the public good. Governments that do not do reasonable things to protect their citizens are usually not republics (US is a republic)

For the ANTI SUV side ...

(and I know this might be extreme) Anything ... anything at all that lessens the number of choices in a free economy is a bad thing. The American economy, since the government figured out that monopolies were bad things, has thrived on competition. The more choice for consumers means three things

1. prices, generally are driven down by competition
2. quality usually goes up to compete
3. weaker players are driven from the marketplace

Creating a marketplace that limits choices to American is not good for everyone.

The reasonable approach is to find the balance ... where is the equalibrium between the two extremes? I believe that is the job of your congressmen/women (with input from everyone since they represent you).

I'm done

PS. Although my "SUV" is just a softroader, I pay less for gas for it than the MCS simply in the difference between premium in regular so it will be driven ... and more as gas prices rise!