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

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.

thevoyagekayaking ,

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.

TagMeInSkipIGotThis OP ,

I buy that with Utes; back in the 2000s and 2010s. But early on when SUVs were becoming vogue it was definitely a perception of safety, particularly for the urban buyers using it for around town, school and sports runs etc.

Nowadays a twin cab ute has fairly well taken over that spot, particularly for urban drivers but whether perceived safety is as much of a selling point for them I'm willing to concede.

Sure, a Leaf might weight something similar to a Ranger; but the big difference in danger from a Ranger is its height and particularly driving around town poor visibility for pedestrians.

And in any case, I'm not barking up much of a tree, read the study - it's pretty clear that Utes & SUVs in that study were a lot more dangerous. Also note I tied safety fears to SUVs, not Utes.

TagMeInSkipIGotThis OP ,

And to add one more thing, your weight comparison on Leaf vs Ranger doesn't ring true to a quick google. Kerb weight on the leaf shows up approximately 1570kg, looking at drive.com.au stats, there's no 2023 Ranger less than 2200kg. And then perhaps more importantly, Gross Vehicle Mass is just under 2000kg vs 3200kg+

thevoyagekayaking ,

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/ford-ranger-specifications-all-the-details-88686

They start at less than 1.8 tonnes. A model S, by comparison, is 2.2 tonnes.

mojofrododojo ,

A model S has better brakes and a lower center of gravity, AND better visibility for pedestrians. SUV's are getting dangerously overgrown in their fronts and it's taking lives.

https://www.theautopian.com/full-size-suvs-are-twice-as-likely-to-kill-pedestrians-as-cars-study/

thevoyagekayaking ,

We're not talking about SUVs here, we're talking about utes. And that doesn't change the fact that a collision between an S and a small hatchback would annihilate the smaller car.

mojofrododojo ,

utes

stop acting like the vast majority of utes are low-body holdens - today there's a lot more rangers and hiluxes that are basically SUV's with beds.

annihilate? what do you think's in the batteries, antimatter?

I think your rhetoric is more charged than the tesla and your 'cautionary' bias is ridiculously misplaced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpuX-5E7xoU

Venator ,

https://youtu.be/cLl95jjlw0s

thevoyagekayaking ,

You're replying to a month old comment, the argument is well and truly over.

You seriously need to get a life.

Venator ,

It's a good video, you should watch it. 😂

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