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SUVs and pickups are twice as likely to kill someone in a major crash. It’s insane they are allowed on the road.

vba616 4y ago
What is an SUV? Here's an example of two vehicles that I imagine might be cross-shopped by a hypothetical consumer who is able to ignore styling and image and objectively compare SUVs and non-SUVs. (Yes, these are probably more US-market models, but it's tough for me to envision someone who doesn't care about image rationally cross-shopping a BMW with anything) A 2020 Nissan Pathfinder has 7.1 inches of ground clearance and curb weight of 4,475 lbs. In over 30 years, the model name "Pathfinder" has applied to totally different vehicles, but always with the connotation, as far as I know, of being an SUV. A 2021 Kia Sedona, which is a minivan, has 6.7 inches of ground clearance. Curb weight 4,443 pounds. The Sedona nameplate has also been around through several redesigns, but as far as I know has always been a van. So, the SUV in this comparison has 0.4 inches more ground clearance, which is about 10 mm. And it supposedly weighs 32 lbs more, in whatever configuration they were tested in. This is about 2 1/3 stone, or a little under 15 kg. Maybe weight and ground clearance aren't material to why SUVs should be banned. But something essential to "SUVness" has to be identified to prevent working around a ban. I don't know what it might be. I think there's a process that's been going on for several decades, where auto manufacturers are actively trying to blur the lines between SUVs and other cars. And it's a significant evolution, if you compare today's models with the 80s.
- kaffeeringe 4y ago
  Yes, there are all kinds of too big cars standing in our cities.
  - vba616 4y ago
    Do you think it's a problem if tradespeople drive full-size pickup trucks or vans? I could be wrong, but in my city, I think the majority of people driving pickups are driving work trucks, or they are from outside the city. What about ordinary people renting large vehicles for a specific job? Are buses ok? What about semi-trailers?

What is an SUV? Here's an example of two vehicles that I imagine might be cross-shopped by a hypothetical consumer who is able to ignore styling and image and objectively compare SUVs and non-SUVs. (Yes, these are probably more US-market models, but it's tough for me to envision someone who doesn't care about image rationally cross-shopping a BMW with anything) A 2020 Nissan Pathfinder has 7.1 inches of ground clearance and curb weight of 4,475 lbs. In over 30 years, the model name "Pathfinder" has applied to totally different vehicles, but always with the connotation, as far as I know, of being an SUV. A 2021 Kia Sedona, which is a minivan, has 6.7 inches of ground clearance. Curb weight 4,443 pounds. The Sedona nameplate has also been around through several redesigns, but as far as I know has always been a van. So, the SUV in this comparison has 0.4 inches more ground clearance, which is about 10 mm. And it supposedly weighs 32 lbs more, in whatever configuration they were tested in. This is about 2 1/3 stone, or a little under 15 kg. Maybe weight and ground clearance aren't material to why SUVs should be banned. But something essential to "SUVness" has to be identified to prevent working around a ban. I don't know what it might be. I think there's a process that's been going on for several decades, where auto manufacturers are actively trying to blur the lines between SUVs and other cars. And it's a significant evolution, if you compare today's models with the 80s.

kaffeeringe 4y ago
Yes, there are all kinds of too big cars standing in our cities.
- vba616 4y ago
  Do you think it's a problem if tradespeople drive full-size pickup trucks or vans? I could be wrong, but in my city, I think the majority of people driving pickups are driving work trucks, or they are from outside the city. What about ordinary people renting large vehicles for a specific job? Are buses ok? What about semi-trailers?