SUV controversy

[allicat]

In my paper today there is a story about the SUV controversy going on. A campaign was recently launched by a sydicated columnist as well as some Christian groups against SUV's and their owners, calling the cars gas guzzlers and the owners indirect terrorists.
Now, that I dismiss. What disturbed me was what the head of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration said. He wouldnt put kids in an SUV that got a 2 star rollover rating(30-40% rollover rate) if it was the last car on earth.
I researched my Nissan XTerra before I bought it and thought it was safe. After looking at rollover ratings , it got 2 stars and doesnt seeem to be safe. I drive DD and her friends around every day!
I mean you could say- what are the chances of a rollover happening but still there is a chance.I love my Xterra and now i feel unsafe in it.

 

[SPAGo 98]

Originally posted by allicat
What disturbed me was what the head of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration said. He wouldnt put kids in an SUV that got a 2 star rollover rating if it was the last car on earth.

Doesn't disturb me - it makes sense. You wouldn't want to be in a car that has a risk of rollover between 30 and 40 percent. Ignorance is bliss, but I'd rather know the risks and be worried, than live in danger.

 

[allicat]

I went back and clarified my post a bit, Spago. I didnt make it clear that a 2 star rating has a 30-40% risk of rollover.
I think Im getting rid of my Xterra.Safety first.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That was exactly why we bought a Windstar! They have a 5 star rating!

 

[newmousecateer]

My Escalade has a 3 star rating, not the best, not the worst. I love it. Just drove it in sleet and snow this morning and it handled like a dream and I feel safe in it.

 

[Tiggeroo]

The reason for many of the rollovers is driving the vehicle as though it is a car. You cannot take turns at high speeds, and no matter what you do not drive the suv as fast as a car because of a difference in reaction speeds.
Also, how often do you really rollover? Do the chances of a rollover outweigh the chances of you being in a normal accident with you in a normal sized vehicle but the other vehicle being in a Ford Expedition, or a Dodge Durango.
One of the reasons we drive an SUV is that there are just too many big vehicles on the road these days. We went back and forth about this with my dd when we were looking for a car for her. We could give her my old jeep cherokee, or buy her an older Taurus or something similar. We went with the Cherokee. She was the middle vehicle in a three car accident. Her and her boyfriend walked away unhurt. It could have been much worst. There is, of course a risk of rollover. But if you look at the statistics the majority of the serious injuries in these accidents involve no seatbelts. You must always wear seat belts in an SUV just in case.
I am not an expert. You need to weigh everything and make a decision. Of course, make sure your other crash statistics are high.

 

[olena]

Volvo is coming out with an SUV. It hasn't been tested though, since it is so new. I'm curious how it compares, since that would probably be the SUV we might be interested in. Then again, I doubt we'll ever go the SUV route.

 

[kdonnel]

I don't put much faith in those star ratings.

They don't actually try and roll the cars over. They have a statistical program that uses certain measurements taken from the car to deduce the probability that the car will roll over.

How do they know they have weighted each of the measurements correctly? The car manufactures have access to this formula and have begun redesigning their cars so they get a higher star rating. That is not to say they are actually safer just that they fit the formula better. I am thinking of Ford in particular and the redesign of the Expedition and Explorer. Key items in the car were made to conform better to the formula so that both would no longer get such low stat ratings.

If the formula is wrong the car could actually be worse.

 

[Blondie]

Regardless of this controversy, SUV's are here to stay.

From MSN:

There are 68 model lines of sport utilities for sale on the U.S. market this year.

The sport-utility vehicle (SUV) category is one of the hottest in the industry, making up more than 22 percent of the market in 2001, according to research done by J.D. Power and Associates. Sales of luxury SUVs are also on the increase, making up almost nine percent of all sport-utility sales.

I drive a Chevy Blazer. I'm sure it has a very high rollover rate, but that won't keep me from driving it! Some people drive SUVs like they are in an urban assault vehicle. SUVs can't handle curves in the road like a car can.

I think the chances of me being rearended by a semi are higher than me rolling over on the road.

And if I'm going to be rearended, I'd rather be in my SUV than a compact car. Controversy or not, I'm a proud SUV driver.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here is some PBS info on the subject. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rollover/

I have only driven an SUV, twice I think, rentals at WDW, a Chevy Blazer and Olds Bravada. I did feel uncomfortable drving them, at speed, on turns. I prefer a regular car.

 

[Robinrs]

I cannot tell you how many of these rollover accidents I've seen in the past years...

One occurred in front of my office building and resulted in a fatality.

Here in Buckhead, an SUV is more common than a car and I think too many people are not educated in how to handle it.

Like Dan, I've driven in them, rentals and prefer a car. Not as much for the rollover, the GAS alone is another car note! I don't know how people afford it! I drive alot and it would put me in hock!

I agree that they will always be around, I think people do feel safer in them, but if it is a unrealistic feeling of safety, I wonder if they will prevail.

The car companies don't want to lose their niche so I'm sure they'll concentrate on it, at least I hope they do!

 

[Rajah]

I'd rather be in an SUV than a compact car. But, given the full range of car sizes, a midsize to full-size car makes me more comfortable if I'm driving. I take turns fast enough occasionally that I was concerned about getting an SUV when I was looking at those vs a new *car*. I went with the car. However, I'd still like either an SUV or a truck as a third vehicle (years down the road) for the times when there's heavy rain (and thus flooding) or I need to haul something.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I was rearended by a semi at highway speeds two years ago in a Taurus. They have the highest saftey rating of all US made vehicles. Neither I nor my DD were injured. Only the trunk of the car and rear window were smooshed! The entire passenger compartment was unscathed.

 

[4greatboys]

I drive a suburban. I feel very safe in it. Of course I dont try to drive like Jeff Gordon but I have seen other ppl that do. In many wrecks I have seen around town I have seen more than one car flipped over but I havent see many very many SUV's rolled over. While I'm sure they do have a higher rate of roll overs than cars do any vehicle can be dangerous if driven unsafely.