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What to do about America's killer cars

economist.com

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Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#51

Post by renewiltord »

mc32 wrote: post #9
renewiltord wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone on Hacker News pointed out that "right of way doesn't mean you won't die" and "Yield to Gross Tonnage" and I was convinced to trade out my smaller car for a large one. I told my friends about it and we're all buying bigger SUVs. We didn't grow up in America and didn't realize that the culture was an explicit arms race. But now we are appropriately armored! Glad for HN advice. A friend is going to get a Hummer…

Ah, the good old hausfrauenpanzer

LOL great name. I am going to fix up this sticker and put it on the car. Haha https://i.imgur.com/jQtRdoy.jpeg

Der Panzer für Die Hausfrauen indeed.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#52

Post by qball »

avidiax wrote: post #37
causality0 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blame the EPA for forcing vehicles larger and larger using a nonsensical method of calculating efficiency requirements. Companies would be happy to sell compact pickup trucks that got 30mpg but they aren't allowed.

> Companies would be happy to sell compact pickup trucks that got 30mpg but they aren't allowed. It seems quite possible to take a sedan and replace the back seat and trunk with a bed and still meet requirements. I'm sure that configuration is a bit less aerodynamic, but it shouldn't be a deal breaker. Meanwhile companies like Ford are not selling any sedans at all. It seems they think it's more profitable to sell on…

>It seems quite possible to take a sedan and replace the back seat and trunk with a bed and still meet requirements.

These already exist, they're called "utes".

Modern compact utility vehicles are simply the North American equivalent of this concept; we simply prefer a carpeted, covered bed.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#53

Post by ryandrake »

SoftTalker wrote: post #47
_yb2s wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is pretty absurd… there are plenty of non commercial reasons to use a truck- towing trailers, hauling wood, etc. they’re pretty essential for people that live in the country, do subsistence farming, or build/maintain their own house. I grew up in the country in a house my dad built, and we got much of our food from plants and animals we raised- we needed a truck. Ultimately all motor vehicles are pretty dangerou…

Yes but a farmer's pickup truck used to look like this... https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6c/a8/29/6ca8299cb79d89b811da... ... and now it looks like this... https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LDHolYeplpg/maxresdefault.jpg

These trucks seem to be deliberately designed and styled to look meaner, belligerent, and menacing. Like a gigantic fist driving down the highway shouting "Stay out of my way!" Are these personality extensions for a population that is getting meaner and more belligerent every year?

These trucks (and some cars, to be fair) visibly project hostility. As a commenter put it in a past HN article, "Emissions requirements don't require a truck to look like it's going to beat you up."[1]

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32425028

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#54

Post by hedora »

misun78 wrote: post #3

Let me be the first one to say it - anyone who drives a large pick-up truck for non-commercial reasons is a grade A asshole. SUV drivers aren't that far off, though I sympathize with the game theory element of buying SUVs to protect against other larger cars -- but I would expect you to take accountability and drive slower and safer than smaller cars. These monstrosities are environmentally unfriendly, pedestrian unf…

I think the bigger problem is that cars keep getting taller for no reason.

Other than the cybertruck, larger vehicles have been trending more and more towards adding pedestrian safety features. However, the same vehicles are taller than they used to be, making them less safe, and generally worse.

Who wants to lift crap an extra foot into their pickup truck bed, and need a frigging step to get into the side door? The days of “reach into the side of the truck” are long gone, except maybe for basketball players.

Recently I heard some new cars detect imminent collisions, and emergency lift themselves a few inches so they win the game of “who gets to be in the other driver’s lap after the crush zone is exhausted”.

Speaking of the cybertruck, I realized it’s the same height as our aging 1500 class truck (which barely meets clearance in some parking garages). Current year models are even taller.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#55

Post by mitthrowaway2 »

Gimpei wrote: post #43
misun78 wrote: post #3

Let me be the first one to say it - anyone who drives a large pick-up truck for non-commercial reasons is a grade A asshole. SUV drivers aren't that far off, though I sympathize with the game theory element of buying SUVs to protect against other larger cars -- but I would expect you to take accountability and drive slower and safer than smaller cars. These monstrosities are environmentally unfriendly, pedestrian unf…

If you have a large family, it’s hard to get by without an SUV. Four kids and all their car seats do not fit into a regular sized car. While it would be great if we could all just get my on public transportation and shank’s pony like in Europe, the ship left the port a hundred years ago on that one. Like it or not the majority of US cities are designed for the car.

Didn't a minivan or a station wagon used to fill this role?

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#56

Post by mitthrowaway2 »

_yb2s wrote: post #32
misun78 wrote: post #3

Let me be the first one to say it - anyone who drives a large pick-up truck for non-commercial reasons is a grade A asshole. SUV drivers aren't that far off, though I sympathize with the game theory element of buying SUVs to protect against other larger cars -- but I would expect you to take accountability and drive slower and safer than smaller cars. These monstrosities are environmentally unfriendly, pedestrian unf…

This is pretty absurd… there are plenty of non commercial reasons to use a truck- towing trailers, hauling wood, etc. they’re pretty essential for people that live in the country, do subsistence farming, or build/maintain their own house. I grew up in the country in a house my dad built, and we got much of our food from plants and animals we raised- we needed a truck. Ultimately all motor vehicles are pretty dangerou…

In the Japanese countryside I see people use kei trucks for these tasks. They're tiny but they can haul a lot of stuff.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#57

Post by kcplate »

misun78 wrote: post #27
mikesickler wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a really out of touch take.

You haven't explained why but I can preemptively say it isn't. Go outside the confines of American suburbia/countryside and you will see how out of touch these vehicles are to sustainable and healthy living.

Just what places exactly are you referring to? I travel all over the US and short of NYC and downtown Chicago, trucks and SUVs are everywhere.

Maybe outside the US, but inside the US…these are the norm in my experience.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#58

Post by misun78 »

aikinai wrote: post #31
misun78 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately agree, especially given how much of an influence the auto industry has on our government. My goal is hence to make enough money to allow my family and I to live in an urban walkable environment. The venn diagram overlap of areas that have a high proportion of large trucks and how livable they are is quite small anyways.

You mean in another country? Where would that actually be in the US?

NYC, Boston, and SF if SF can get its act together. There are a plethora of small livable cities as well such as Boulder, CO.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#59

Post by misun78 »

_yb2s wrote: post #32
misun78 wrote: post #3

Let me be the first one to say it - anyone who drives a large pick-up truck for non-commercial reasons is a grade A asshole. SUV drivers aren't that far off, though I sympathize with the game theory element of buying SUVs to protect against other larger cars -- but I would expect you to take accountability and drive slower and safer than smaller cars. These monstrosities are environmentally unfriendly, pedestrian unf…

This is pretty absurd… there are plenty of non commercial reasons to use a truck- towing trailers, hauling wood, etc. they’re pretty essential for people that live in the country, do subsistence farming, or build/maintain their own house. I grew up in the country in a house my dad built, and we got much of our food from plants and animals we raised- we needed a truck. Ultimately all motor vehicles are pretty dangerou…

Yeah I totally understand your viewpoint but as other posters have said, my comment was directed at standard urban/suburban areas.

Re: What to do about America's killer cars

#60

Post by misun78 »

uneekname wrote: post #39
_yb2s wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is pretty absurd… there are plenty of non commercial reasons to use a truck- towing trailers, hauling wood, etc. they’re pretty essential for people that live in the country, do subsistence farming, or build/maintain their own house. I grew up in the country in a house my dad built, and we got much of our food from plants and animals we raised- we needed a truck. Ultimately all motor vehicles are pretty dangerou…

I can't speak for OP but their take sounded pretty city-focused. I live in a downtown that feels so overrun with these monstrous SUVs and what-have-you for no reason. I know they're useless because they're always empty and they park on my street (or better, in the bike lane I use every day). I agree with your sentiment. Large vehicles have a lot of utility for a lot of people. I don't want to tax rural folk out of ow…

You're spot on with that explanation, thanks.
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