KA24DESOneThree
12-12-2004, 03:56 PM
Alright Zilvians... I know most of you harbor negative feelings against SUVs, and I'm writing an argument paper that has to get "published" out into the world. Therefore, read my paper and let me know if I forgot anything or have any fallacies. Also, if you know anyone who drives and SUV, talk to them about this and see what they think. I'd prefer this not turn into a flaming contest. Thanks in advance. This is a relatively rough version and, with your help, I plan to have a good one to turn in on Tuesday.
Anyone can see the positive aspects of sport-utility vehicles. They’re great for families of six or more. They have more vertical cargo capacity, sometimes more overall cargo capacity. (Although, due to their larger wheels and tires, most are about equal with station wagons due to cargo area intrusion.) SUVs have a higher towing capacity due to truck chassis and more torquey engines than station wagons, for the most part. For the truly upwardly-mobile families, the truck-based SUVs offer decent-to-good off-road capabilities due to more ground clearance, more suspension articulation, and better underbody shielding. I suppose SUVs offer better visibility because occupants are higher off the road and the frontal visual opening is larger, although that one is debatable. Being high from the ground isn’t necessarily a welcome characteristic, though.
In 2003, there was an 11 percent increase in SUV crash deaths. There were 456 more deaths in SUVs than cars; more than half of above deaths were from rollovers. 22% of all auto deaths were from rollovers, compared with 62 percent of all SUV deaths. Last year, SUV rollover fatalities increased from 2448 to 2701, a 10 percent increase. Cars and pickups both saw a drop in the number of fatalities, 7.5 percent and 6.8 percent respectively, but both SUVs and vans saw an increased fatality rate of 6.8 percent and 3.6 percent in vans. Those are startling statistics, though the increase in SUV fatalities is linked somewhat to their increased sales. The worst statistic of all is the occupant fatality in rollovers, which is an astonishing 35.2 percent. More than a third of all rollovers result in death, which is both horrible and amazing. That SUV manufacturers have not addressed the issue of a too-weak body cage is disgusting. These numbers are too big to ignore, yet the manufacturers do just that. I doubt they care, as long as Joe Public thinks that because his SUV weighs over two tons, he’s safe.
SUVs are not only dangerous to their occupants, they’re dangerous to the cars with which they share the road. The difference between the average weight of passenger cars and light trucks (the category under which SUVs are grouped) is 1,185 pounds. Over half a ton more weight can do indescribable damage to a subcompact or a sports car. Also, the average SUV’s bumper is 8 inches higher than a car’s, meaning a higher point of impact in an area not designed to absorb such high forces. Because of this, 80 percent of deaths in an impact between an SUV and car are occupants of the car. In a side impact collision, the occupants of a car are 27 times more likely to die if struck by an SUV than a car striking an SUV. SUVs, due to their higher fatality rates and the increased destruction caused by them to cars, raise prices of insurance for everyone as well. They are a bane on our population and should be moderated.
SUVs also damage the environment. Their larger, normally less-sophisticated engines slurp more gas. This increased gas usage translates to higher CO, NOx, and HC output, to the obvious detriment of the atmosphere. (LA, anyone?) Maybe dealerships should institute a “buy an SUV, buy two acres of forest” program to help clean the air. SUVs are also models of material excess; to build a vehicle of that size would obviously require more steel, plastic, leather, glass, et cetera than a passenger car, depleting natural resources and increasing intrusion on nature. SUVs, the ones that actually see the flora and fauna off the beaten path, are also damaging to their surroundings. With their lugged tires and portly weight, SUVs tear up plants and destroy animals’ homes.
Americans and, increasingly, people from other countries are living lives of excess. The popularity of the SUV is proof. Some people buy big SUVs though they have but one kid and live in the suburbs, simply because they’re now a status symbol. They’re too big, too bling, and use too much gas. (Remember that we only have about a 40 year supply… at the current rate of consumption!) The new official vehicle of the modern yuppies is the SUV. With twenty-inch wheels and tinted windows, one becomes like a rock star or rapper. Had it even occurred to them (and any of you considering an SUV because it’s big or bling or your neighbor has one or Arnold has one or the commercial has that band you liked back in the Seventies) that they’re increasing our dependence on foreign oil or reducing the amount of time researchers have to come up with a viable alternative to fossil fuels? Extremely doubtful. How about this statistic: 5 percent. 5 percent is the percentage of SUV owners who actually take their SUVs off the road. All the rest just ferry around their 1.2 kids while basking in the fact that their point of view is higher than those in cars. Also, the number of SUV drivers who subconsciously exceed the speed limit is quite high, due to the fact that being higher from the ground leads to a lessened sense of speed. A bunch of speeding SUV drivers on their cell phones should be used in the Army; their destructive power would be devastating.
Anyone can see the positive aspects of sport-utility vehicles. They’re great for families of six or more. They have more vertical cargo capacity, sometimes more overall cargo capacity. (Although, due to their larger wheels and tires, most are about equal with station wagons due to cargo area intrusion.) SUVs have a higher towing capacity due to truck chassis and more torquey engines than station wagons, for the most part. For the truly upwardly-mobile families, the truck-based SUVs offer decent-to-good off-road capabilities due to more ground clearance, more suspension articulation, and better underbody shielding. I suppose SUVs offer better visibility because occupants are higher off the road and the frontal visual opening is larger, although that one is debatable. Being high from the ground isn’t necessarily a welcome characteristic, though.
In 2003, there was an 11 percent increase in SUV crash deaths. There were 456 more deaths in SUVs than cars; more than half of above deaths were from rollovers. 22% of all auto deaths were from rollovers, compared with 62 percent of all SUV deaths. Last year, SUV rollover fatalities increased from 2448 to 2701, a 10 percent increase. Cars and pickups both saw a drop in the number of fatalities, 7.5 percent and 6.8 percent respectively, but both SUVs and vans saw an increased fatality rate of 6.8 percent and 3.6 percent in vans. Those are startling statistics, though the increase in SUV fatalities is linked somewhat to their increased sales. The worst statistic of all is the occupant fatality in rollovers, which is an astonishing 35.2 percent. More than a third of all rollovers result in death, which is both horrible and amazing. That SUV manufacturers have not addressed the issue of a too-weak body cage is disgusting. These numbers are too big to ignore, yet the manufacturers do just that. I doubt they care, as long as Joe Public thinks that because his SUV weighs over two tons, he’s safe.
SUVs are not only dangerous to their occupants, they’re dangerous to the cars with which they share the road. The difference between the average weight of passenger cars and light trucks (the category under which SUVs are grouped) is 1,185 pounds. Over half a ton more weight can do indescribable damage to a subcompact or a sports car. Also, the average SUV’s bumper is 8 inches higher than a car’s, meaning a higher point of impact in an area not designed to absorb such high forces. Because of this, 80 percent of deaths in an impact between an SUV and car are occupants of the car. In a side impact collision, the occupants of a car are 27 times more likely to die if struck by an SUV than a car striking an SUV. SUVs, due to their higher fatality rates and the increased destruction caused by them to cars, raise prices of insurance for everyone as well. They are a bane on our population and should be moderated.
SUVs also damage the environment. Their larger, normally less-sophisticated engines slurp more gas. This increased gas usage translates to higher CO, NOx, and HC output, to the obvious detriment of the atmosphere. (LA, anyone?) Maybe dealerships should institute a “buy an SUV, buy two acres of forest” program to help clean the air. SUVs are also models of material excess; to build a vehicle of that size would obviously require more steel, plastic, leather, glass, et cetera than a passenger car, depleting natural resources and increasing intrusion on nature. SUVs, the ones that actually see the flora and fauna off the beaten path, are also damaging to their surroundings. With their lugged tires and portly weight, SUVs tear up plants and destroy animals’ homes.
Americans and, increasingly, people from other countries are living lives of excess. The popularity of the SUV is proof. Some people buy big SUVs though they have but one kid and live in the suburbs, simply because they’re now a status symbol. They’re too big, too bling, and use too much gas. (Remember that we only have about a 40 year supply… at the current rate of consumption!) The new official vehicle of the modern yuppies is the SUV. With twenty-inch wheels and tinted windows, one becomes like a rock star or rapper. Had it even occurred to them (and any of you considering an SUV because it’s big or bling or your neighbor has one or Arnold has one or the commercial has that band you liked back in the Seventies) that they’re increasing our dependence on foreign oil or reducing the amount of time researchers have to come up with a viable alternative to fossil fuels? Extremely doubtful. How about this statistic: 5 percent. 5 percent is the percentage of SUV owners who actually take their SUVs off the road. All the rest just ferry around their 1.2 kids while basking in the fact that their point of view is higher than those in cars. Also, the number of SUV drivers who subconsciously exceed the speed limit is quite high, due to the fact that being higher from the ground leads to a lessened sense of speed. A bunch of speeding SUV drivers on their cell phones should be used in the Army; their destructive power would be devastating.