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Utes and SUVs kill... (www.hcn.org)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Saw this shared on Mastodon and it really made me think of National and their Atlas Network aligned astro-turf organisation the Taxpayer's Onion who campaigned against what they termed the 'ute tax'.

If the results of this 2004 study hold true 20 years later, and in New Zealand, then knowingly or not, they in effect have campaigned for and enacted legislation that will kill more New Zealanders.

"A 2004 study found that for every life saved by a motorist who switched from a car to a light truck (SUV or pickup), 4.3 other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists were killed. "

That statistic also suggests that the safety fears driving people to SUVs are completely overblown and over-egged.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (40 children)

I know a few ute owners, I've never heard any of them mention safety as a reason for buying one. In the days of ANCAP safety ratings, it's very easy to know exactly how safe a vehicle is.

The reasons people typically buy utes and SUVs is as a lifestyle vehicle, something that can carry sporting equipment, camping gear etc, go anywhere they want to go, and tow.

It's also worth noting that some of the heaviest vehicles on the road are EVs, the difference in weight between a Leaf and a Ranger isn't actually much.

I honestly think you're barking up the wrong tree here.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (5 children)

A leaf has much better pedestrian crash safety than any ute or SUV...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (4 children)

OK, so what about vans? Most cab forward van designs are just a wall, and even vehicles like the Transit would be worse than most SUVs. Why aren't we griping about those?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Vans are infinitely more useful than SUVs. They're also the better lifestyle cars.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Most trade vans are two seaters, they have stiff suspension, low ground clearance, and are very rarely AWD.

No, they don't make good lifestyle cars at all, especially if you tow or have children.

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