SUVs are a classic example of conscpicuous consumption. Drive along Chase St., in the old section of Worthington, and practically every vehicle parked along the street is an SUV.
One afternoon recently, as I was waiting for the light in front of one of our elementary schools, I watched a procession of children crossing the street. Easily 7 out of 10 of them were substantially overweight, and some were actually--I would say--obese.
Is that why Americans need bigger cars?
I was driving another day, out shopping, when I passed the aftermath of a collision. It was along a commercial road lined both sides with stores and restaurants. Do you have those center lanes, designated for left turns, both ways? Two motorists had simultaneously entered the turn lane, and they collided head on. Fortunately, they would both have been decelerating--reducing the likelihood of sometimes fatal airbag deployment--but the combined speed at the time of the crash must have been 35 to 40 MPH, anyway. The front of the SUV was dented. The other vehicle, something about the size of LuShes' Focus, was all smashed in, and it had rebounded from the impact and rotated--evidence that it had gone airborne--about, I'd say, 45 degrees. Four ball off the ten, corner pocket.
I sat in an SUV, an Expedition, at the dealer last year. I thought to myself, there is no reason for having a vehicle this big, unless you are pulling a trailer. I traded my Focus stationwagon for a Taurus sedan. The Focus was a joy to drive, and the cargo space was a real plus, but on the road with so many much larger and heavier vehicles, it was a potential death-trap. (By the way, no one is talking about the huge number of pick-up trucks on the road. You do have those in Canada, right?) The Taurus is rated, I believe, the most crash survivable car made in America--well for the American market. My car was made up in Ontario, actually. Thanks guys! It only gets 20 miles to the gallon, but the safety is worth it. I feel more at ease.
I have given serious thought, however, to trading it in on a secondhand Bradley fighting vehicle. I'll take it up on Bethel Rd., and tailgate SUVs. HAHAHAHAHA!!! :twisted: