Bannin Sport Utility Vehicles Essay Research Paper

Bannin Sport Utility Vehicles Essay, Research Paper A Collaboration of Research About Banning Sport Utility Vehicles From the Roads Eric Larson Sport utility vehicles should not be permitted on the road due primarily to safety concerns. I. Safety Concerns A. Prone to Rollovers 1. High center of gravity a. Taller than most other vehicles b. Weighted more towards the top 2. Track width a. The gap between tires b. The wider the width, the lower the rollover possibility 3. Many deaths due to rollovers a. Four times more likely as cars to rollover b. Passengers are ejected from the vehicle i. Due to passengers not wearing seat belts ii. Think they are invincible iii. If vehicle were to have less chance of rolling over, the person would still be safe. B. Overloading 1. More room

does not mean you can fill the car a. Too much cargo can result in a higher likelihood to rollover b. It can be potentially fatal 2. Overloading is easy to do in an SUV a. With five 180-pound adults, there’s only 100 pounds left for cargo in the average SUV b. Just because there looks to be a lot of room, does not mean that it can be filled C. Bumpers 1. Bumpers are higher on SUVs than on most cars 2. Much damage caused in low-speed crashes. a. More than if the bumpers would meet c. Damages cost more D. Car to SUV collision 1. The smaller car comes out worse off a. 4 out of 5 people who die are in smaller cars b. There is a relationship between SUV sales and death in accidents with smaller cars 2. Only the SUV is safe a. The SUV driver is safe b. The occupants in the other car

are injured E. Poor maneuverability in urban traffic conditions F. Headlights 1. SUV headlights are too high. a. Shine into other cars. b. In traffic, can shine into a lower car s mirrors and blind the occupant. c. Oncoming SUVs blind other drivers 2. Lower headlights will increase safety G. SUV owners are not driving them for the intended purpose 1. SUV drivers lack the necessary training to drive as advertised. a. Commercials show SUVs plowing through snow, mud, and other difficult terrain, making the public want to buy them. b. Most of the time in these commercials, the fine print says something such as Professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt c. When people do try to attempt what commercials depict, the results are not good 2. Most drivers do not take their SUV

off-road 3. Because they own an SUV, drivers think they can handle anything on the road a. Drivers believe they are the kings of the road b. They drive aggressively and carelessly II. Safety for the elite (buying the way to safety) A. The prices of SUVs are high 1. In turn, these prices pay for safety a. To be safe, more money must be spent, which causes drivers of smaller cars to be less safe. b. A type of discrimination is in play here; only the rich can afford to be safe. 2. People are paying high prices for low gas mileage B. Paying more money and polluting the air is one way to be safe III. Pollution A. The gas mileage of SUVs is low 1. SUVs get an average of 13 miles per gallon a. Due to poor aerodynamics b. Height and weight 2. The rise of gas prices and the inefficiency

of SUVs have left some drivers desperate B. Have an effect on global warming 1. U.S.A. is number one global warming polluter 2. Autos contribute greatly IV. Governmental intervention A. The SUV loophole allows manufacturers to not pay taxes, and continue making gas-guzzling, polluting vehicles. 1. Just to save money, car makers are killing the environment 2. Cars are not exempt, only low gas mileage SUVs, light trucks and trucks are. B. SUV owners who use their vehicles for business are getting tax breaks too. C. The government is contributing to air pollution 1. They are offering this break 2. California has successfully passed a clean air law The driver of the Ford Excursion was slightly bruised; the driver of the Honda Civic was killed on impact. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs),