Supersized US Style Vehicles - Safety

[#Metro]

Utes are getting bigger and heavier. So much bigger that other road users feel unsafe on the roads... imagine what this means for pedestrians and cyclists!

The traffic stream looks like it might become a lot more dangerous. Larger vehicles that are heavier have higher inertia.

I think part of this trend is that these vehicles double as both work and personal transport and thus can qualify for tax write-down as a business expense.

[#Metro]

"Eats everything else for breakfast"... including cyclists and pedestrians?

"tax breaks"

[nathandavid88]

I've heard them described as "Emotional Support Vehicles".

[Monster]

Correct. ESV's for short.     And the old, tired excuse..."I need it to tow my caravan/boat/trailer". I'm sorry but I don't think you do......

The most frustrating thing I find is with parking. Either the vehicles are too big to park in existing spaces (ie between the lines) or the owners simply figure that their car is bigger than all others, so be damned with anyone else who parks next to them.

But let me tell you, the frustration you feel when you get back to your car and you see a "tank" that has parked next to you and you have to squeeeeze just to open the door and get into your car......

My kids have learnt "new" words from that experience.....

[#Metro]

Are they bigger than the normal car spaces you see at shopping centres?

[Monster]

Are they bigger than the normal car spaces you see at shopping centres?

I believe they are. If not, it's awfully close. And it does require some sort of effort parking between the lines. Not just swinging it in and going "ahh it's close enough".

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/space4cyclingbn/status/1684872422330429440

[#Metro]

Fuel economy standard differences.

It's no secret that big cars dominate American roads. But even so, some of the stats are staggering: Last year, 80 percent of all new cars sold in the US were SUVs and trucks. That's compared to just 52 percent in 2011. Meanwhile, many automakers are phasing out passenger cars as consumer demand for them has disappeared.

Not all of this is a result of consumer choice, though. A huge factor in why SUVs and trucks are so popular in the US is hidden in a 50-year-old policy decision.

[ozbob]

https://www.threads.net/@danielbowen.au/post/CwY7I-bv_nq

Post by @danielbowen.au

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