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The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

nytimes.com

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Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#21

Post by doubled112 »

downrightmike wrote: post #10
protocolture wrote: post #5

I have 360 degree cameras (at toddler height), auto braking, every conceivable safety mechanism. I really think that once these are implemented, any hatred of large vehicles is just jealousy.

None of that fixes an inattentive driver flying down the road playing with tiktok on their phone

Agreed. It definitely fixes backing over a toddler in your driveway though.

I have a newer crossover. I put a hitch mount cargo box on and went to back out of the driveway. It slammed the brakes on harder than I ever have.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#22

Post by xnx »

ortusdux wrote: post #4

Does the added risk translate proportionally to increased insurance costs? Or is there an imbalance? When I was a teen getting insurance for the first time, certain vehicle colors were significantly more expensive to insure, and that fact factored into my car buying decisions.

There are almost never consequences for hitting someone with your car.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#24

Post by dlcarrier »

adamsb6 wrote: post #8

No mention of CAFE standards? How can you write this article without mentioning the policy that incentivizes larger vehicles?

I'm excited that EVs get to avoid CAFE standards, so we get to have small vehicles again. Even though legacy domestic car manufacturers aren't going to be involved, as they practically wrote the CAFE standards that eliminated small vehicles, and there's bipartisan support to tariff EV imports out of existence, there's still enough market demand for multiple domestic startups.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#25

Post by toomuchtodo »

dlcarrier wrote: post #24
adamsb6 wrote: post #8

No mention of CAFE standards? How can you write this article without mentioning the policy that incentivizes larger vehicles?

I'm excited that EVs get to avoid CAFE standards, so we get to have small vehicles again. Even though legacy domestic car manufacturers aren't going to be involved, as they practically wrote the CAFE standards that eliminated small vehicles, and there's bipartisan support to tariff EV imports out of existence, there's still enough market demand for multiple domestic startups.

Unfortunately, we still get abominations like the GMC Hummer EV (~9000 lbs, classified as a class 3 medium duty truck). Rumor has it the model has been cancelled after 2026 luckily.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/11/driving-the-biggest-lea...

https://www.torquenews.com/17998/i-leased-hummer-ev-because-...

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#26

Post by Eddy_Viscosity2 »

xnx wrote: post #23

Unfortunately, in the car size arms race, bigger and heavier cars are safer for their occupants. "Everyone outside the car be damned" is the expressed preference of US buyers.

I don't think the US consumers are buying the bigger SUV/trucks because they are safer. At best it might be a minor contributing factor. It's primarily a status/identity thing.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#27

Post by toomuchtodo »

Eddy_Viscosity2 wrote: post #26
xnx wrote: post #23

Unfortunately, in the car size arms race, bigger and heavier cars are safer for their occupants. "Everyone outside the car be damned" is the expressed preference of US buyers.

I don't think the US consumers are buying the bigger SUV/trucks because they are safer. At best it might be a minor contributing factor. It's primarily a status/identity thing.

n=1, I dated a low empathy woman who specifically drove a Chevy Tahoe due to mass for safety reasons and transporting her only child in the vehicle frequently. “Good luck to the other driver.”

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#28

Post by protocolture »

rjrjrjrj wrote: post #18
protocolture wrote: post #5

I have 360 degree cameras (at toddler height), auto braking, every conceivable safety mechanism. I really think that once these are implemented, any hatred of large vehicles is just jealousy.

Doesn't fix braking distance, doesn't fix the increased chance of serious injury if a collision with a pedestrian occurs.

>auto braking

The thing literally starts braking before my brain can process whats happening.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#29

Post by rjrjrjrj »

protocolture wrote: post #28
rjrjrjrj wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't fix braking distance, doesn't fix the increased chance of serious injury if a collision with a pedestrian occurs.

>auto braking The thing literally starts braking before my brain can process whats happening.

And finishes long after a similarly-equipped lighter vehicle would.

Re: The deadly rise of giant trucks and SUVs

#30

Post by defrost »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #27
Eddy_Viscosity2 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the US consumers are buying the bigger SUV/trucks because they are safer. At best it might be a minor contributing factor. It's primarily a status/identity thing.

n=1, I dated a low empathy woman who specifically drove a Chevy Tahoe due to mass for safety reasons and transporting her only child in the vehicle frequently. “Good luck to the other driver.”

On the flip side, there's a lot to be said for a low centre of gravity and it's still the case that US "trucks" get smushed by actual trucks (road trains and heavy haul outmass a tahoe).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TskUzmg6Sk

(Site safety video, engine and transmission removed in example vehicle .. still ..)

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