Children are no safer riding in sport utility vehicles than in passenger cars, largely because the doubled risk of rollovers in SUVs cancels out the safety advantages of their greater size and weight, according to a study.
Researchers said the findings dispel the bigger-equals-safer myth that has helped fuel the growing popularity of SUVs among families. SUV registrations climbed 250 percent in the United States between 1995 and 2002.
"We're not saying they're worse or that they're terrible vehicles. We're challenging the conventional wisdom that everyone assumed they were better," said Dr. Dennis Durbin, a pediatric emergency physician who took part in the study, published Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics. (Associated Press)
Okay, I'll say it then. SUVs are worse than cars. They may be "equal" as far as occupant safety goes, but they're worse as far as the resources they consume and the damage they do to others in accidents. Don't buy or use one unless you really need to. (No, looking "cool" isn't a "need".)
2 comments:
Here! Here! But forget the safety of the vehicle, it's the person inside a large truck or SUV that always scares me. Here in SoCal, where nobody needs an SUV (it's not like we're going to have to plow through snow and ice), you're about 80% more likely to be tail-gated or cut off by the driver of a large vehicle as opposed to a smaller car. People tend to buy cars that match their personalities. What does it say when your vehicle of choice is big, obnoxious, and consumes way too much fuel?
If it's a guy I'd say he's compensating for a perceived deficiency in his masculinity. But what do I know? Both of my cars are on the Ultimate Gay Cars list.
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