Parents encouraged to use large 4x4's by the government

[angusglover]

I am generalising I know, but come on are you saying that every women who does the school run in a LR is going dirt tracking in the afternoon??!!

I don't have a problem with estate cars, the sensible option if you ask me.

I am just saying that either we dislike 4x4's because of the damage they do in an accident, or we dislike them for the CO2...but everyone seems to have a different and changing view of why we hate them...

I drive one and I am not gonna stop just because of public opinion.

Personally, I think it is a choice...

[DodgyAgent]

The problems with regards to cars and the environment are the same as with people. The older they are the more gas they release. The solution is the same for both.

[angusglover]

The problems with regards to cars and the environment are the same as with people. The older they are the more gas they release. The solution is the same for both.

So we should all driver newer cars?

[BoredBloke]

"shouldn't you have been paying attention to the traffic and irresponsible pedestrians ?"

Who said either of us were driving. I had been in to drop my son off and she was walking in to drop off her daughter.

[gingerjedi]

I am just saying that either we dislike 4x4's because of the damage they do in an accident, or we dislike them for the CO2...but everyone seems to have a different and changing view of why we hate them...

I drive one and I am not gonna stop just because of public opinion.

Personally, I think it is a choice...

It’s the damage and sense of invulnerability is dislike, I have never been bothered by Co2 as most aren't as bad as they used to be and my car is no angel on that front.

You're right it is your choice, just be careful and considerate of us more vulnerable road users!

[angusglover]

It’s the damage and sense of invulnerability is dislike, I have never been bothered by Co2 as most aren't as bad as they used to be and my car is no angel on that front.

You're right it is your choice, just be careful and considerate of us more vulnerable road users!

So now you are saying that all 4x4 drivers are careless and inconsiderate? Now that is generalising.....

[gingerjedi]

So now you are saying that all 4x4 drivers are careless and inconsiderate? Now that is generalising.....

No I'm not, just that you have to exercise the old adage "With great power comes great responsibility" I'm not saying you are any less considerate but you need to be more so with a larger than average vehicle.

[IR35 Avoider]

I am just saying that either we dislike 4x4's because of the damage they do in an accident, or we dislike them for the CO2...but everyone seems to have a different and changing view of why we hate them...

I drive one and I am not gonna stop just because of public opinion.

Personally, I think it is a choice...

I dislike them because

• They are ugly. (Don't mind Nissan Terrano and Murano though.)
• They are not optimised for the job they do (Dislike Ferraris etc. for the same reason)
• They are selfish/anti-social, they give their owners visibility and (in some circumstances) increased crash protection by increasing height and weight relative to others, consequently taking away visibility and safety from those others.

[angusglover]

I dislike them because

• They are ugly. (Don't mind Nissan Terrano and Murano though.)
• They are not optimised for the job they do (Dislike Ferraris etc. for the same reason)
• They are selfish/anti-social, they give their owners visibility and (in some circumstances) increased crash protection by increasing height and weight relative to others, consequently taking away visibility and safety from those others.

And that is your opinion...I disagree.

[Paddy]

UK insurance industry figures from Churchill show that urban 4x4s are involved in 25% more accidents than saloon cars and do far more damage.[2] Admiral Insurance also recently released figures showing that 4x4 drivers are 27% more likely to be at fault in the event of an accident.
The RAC Foundation says, "You could blame some of the higher accident rate for 4x4s on size. Drivers who are new to these cars might not realise how wide they are. There is also psychology involved - if you feel more secure inside a big 4x4, you might drive with less care than you should."
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro-NCAP) carries out crash tests on cars available in Europe. Of the top 10 cars tested since 1998, none is a 4x4, and only three off-roaders make it into the top 20 (see below).
Big 4x4s are right at the bottom of the class when it comes to pedestrian safety, getting an average Euro-NCAP crash test score of just 4 out of 36, compared with 10 and 13 for large and small family cars, respectively.
In October 2005, the British Medical Journal called for health warnings on 4x4s because of the dangers they pose for pedestrians, and when new test results were released in November 2005, the only car with a zero rating for pedestrian safety was a 4x4 - the Jeep Cherokee.

(Euro-NCAP's own categories - average scores for models tested 1998 - 2005)
Mean crash
test score
(max 36) Range of scores
Mean pedestrian
safety score
(max 36) Range of scores
Large off-roaders 28.0 21-34 3.7 0-10
Large family cars 27.6 9-36 9.9 4-18
Small family cars 26.8 13-35 13.3 2-16
Small MPVs 26.6 19-35 11.4 1-22
Small off-roaders 24.0 20-26 9.3 1-19
Super Minis 22.9 12-33 11.5 5-19
MPVs 22.8 14-35 9.3 5-16

Top 10 cars tested:
(ranked by occupant safety score, then pedestrian safety when tied)
1. Citroen C5 (36, 8)
2. Citroen C4 (35, 22)
3. Ford Focus (35, 15)
4. Toyota Corolla Verso (35, 11)
5. Renault Espace (35, 10)
6. Volvo S40 (34, 18)
7. Peugeot 407 (34, 15)
8. Toyota Prius (34, 13)
9. Renault Laguna (34, 12)
10. Renault Scenic (34, 11)
Best 4x4s tested:
Volvo XC90 (34, 10)
VW Toareg (34, 7)
BMW X5 (33, 2)