I think the difference is the plethora of behemoth SUVs that are driven
here in the US. Every idiot out there who wants to feel "safe & secure"
upgrades from a Ford Fiesta (comparible in size to some Hot Wheels cars) to a
GMC/Chevy Tahoe/Yukon XL or the even larger Ford Excursion.
These people, having the "These seats are comfy-cozy" mentality, are, for
the first time, driving a vehicle with power and are therefore dangerous. By
driving such a large vehicle ("Becuase I'll be safe/live through an accident"
was a major reason why people switch from sub-sub-sub-sub-compact to "This
thing is big enough to require a Class B CDL") the roads have become a lot
more dangerous, especially if/when it snows. I've seen plenty of idiots,
err....new SUV owners, through there truck into 4WD and go off-roading onto
someone's lawn or into a ditch, thus needing a tow.
Having grown up around trucks (my father has owned GMCs for about 25
years now) and haing learned to drive in a GMC Suburban, I scoff at those
that just "upgrade" from compact to jumbo without "getting a feel" for what
they buy. I'd have to ask my brother (a car salesman for Conicelli
Mitsubishi, Honda, etc.) says people are in love with SUVs, trading in Honda
Civic DX hatchbacks for Mitsu. Montero's and Nissan Pathfinders, and he
dreads going on te test drive because they "can't handle the bigger
vehicle... they drive it like they would their car, dangerously."
It's that "bigger is better, safer, etc." mentality that is a definite
killer on the roads in the US today. That and cellphones.... but that's a
differnet subject!
My 2 cents.
Rich C.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon 24 Apr 2000 - 14:30:15 UTC