America's Love for Sport Utility Vehicles

America's Love for Sport Utility Vehicles

They have taken America by storm. Defined as “rugged automotive vehicles similar to a station wagon but built on a light truck chassis” (Gurlanik 723), Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have taken over the roads. The automobile industry is full of them and nearly every automaker has its own version of the vehicle. Drivers like the roominess, the comfort and the status they provide and SUVs are springing up across suburbs and cities like mushrooms (Davidson 1). Americans are in love with the luxuries involved with SUVs: the 4x4 capabilities, being able to sit higher on the road and the sense of control.

SUVs are everywhere. They are in the cities, in the suburbs, small towns and in the country. Companies are making more models and they are getting even bigger in size. The American market is screaming for more production of these vehicles. Frankly, America loves its SUVs.

But there appears to be an escalating problem with SUVs. As Americans thirst for more of the power and comfort they provide, we are refraining from using proper caution while driving SUVs. These vehicles provide a false sense of security for drivers when faced by inclement driving situations. Because of the feature of four-wheel drive, drivers automatically assume safety. These vehicles are also very dangerous to the other vehicles on the road. By observing the trends and facts one will see that Sport Utility Vehicles are a major cause of the increasing danger on the roads today.

The SUV provides the driver with a false sense of security. While one may feel it is a convenience to be riding higher than other commuters are, this characteristic is the one main reason why SUVs are extremely dangerous on the road. Because they are built higher off the ground, they have a high tendency to roll over (Tornatore 1). People in SUVs are 3½ times more likely to die in rollovers than people in mid-sized cars, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Davidson 1). The smaller SUVs are particularly troublesome. These smaller vehicles are particularly popular among teens and younger drivers. This means the less experienced drivers are sitting in the driver’s seats of potentially dangerous vehicles.