[extropy-chat] Real Extropians don't drive SUVs

[Brian Lee]

>From: "J. Andrew Rogers" <andrew at ceruleansystems.com>
>To: <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
>Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Real Extropians don't drive SUVs
>Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:34:20 -0700
>
>BillK wrote:
> >
> > Why should we care whether in certain specific circumstances an SUV
> > might be preferred? The road death figures show that SUVs are killing
> > their drivers in increasing numbers.
>
>
>The problem is ultimately ignorance, not SUVs.  SUVs are very safe *if
>used correctly*,
...
>There is nothing inherently unsafe about SUVs, it is just that a larger
>percentage of the people who drive them now know nothing about how to
>drive them and so treat them like some type of indestructible car.  In
>other words, an education problem.  It is the same as how virtually all
>firearm accidents happen because some fool wasn't following the basic
>rules of firearm safety or didn't feel the need to learn them.  If you
>give unfamiliar power tools to monkeys, bad things are bound to happen.
>j. andrew rogers

There are things inherently unsafe about many SUVs. They have a higher 
tendency to roll over (not just due to driver ignorance). They also make the 
road less safe for non-SUV owners by obstructing their view.

So it is a little more than just "use wisely". If you take an excellent 
driver and have them drive a sedan and an SUV, they will have more 
roll-overs and be more unsafe in the SUV even though their driving skill is 
excellent.

Sort of like handing a monkey a chainsaw and an axe. More injuries with a 
chainsaw than an axe (using the monkey's dexterity as the skill level).

BAL