|
Frequently Asked Questions
How did you come up with the idea for BanSUVs.com?
I can't say specifically what planted the seed for wanting an Anti-SUV web site, but it definitely had to do with
fossil fuels being used up, rising gas prices, mounting death tolls, the arrogance and ignorance of SUV owners, and
their issues with size. I suppose I chose the domain name more for shock value, since I do feel that it would be
unrealistic for all SUVs and large trucks to be outright banned. They do serve a purpose, but that shouldn't be as
a single commuter vehicle or to carry one or two children to school.
Do you consider yourself an environmentalist?
I wouldn't necessarily call myself an environmentalist. I just care about a couple of things that everyone should care
about and those are the welfare of the planet and the safety of others. It's unfathomable to me that anyone would care
more about carrying one more bag of groceries, or getting their 1.5 children to a soccer game, than to do their part
by not creating as much air pollution, using less oil, keeping their family safe from rollovers, or even keeping other
people safe from being crushed.
Which would you choose, safety or the environment?
That's tough to answer and I'd hate to have to choose short term safety vs. long term adverse affects on the planet. One
way to look at the two sides is by seeing what is able to be fixed, or improved. Automakers are starting to make SUVs
more fuel efficient and supposedly have cleaner emissions; however, they are not making them smaller. By their design,
they will never be as "green" as smaller cars and hybrids, but what makes a SUV a SUV is the simple fact that it is a
large vehicle, with a high center of gravity and a higher crash point.
What are some of the main concerns about SUV safety?
When the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety says that SUVs and Pickups aren't safe enough due to rollovers,
people should listen! Remember the problem with Firestone tires that resulted in around 300 deaths due to rollovers?
In that same period, more than 12,000 people, that's 40 times as many, died in SUV rollover crashes that had nothing
to do with those tires. Government is currently pressing for mandatory Electronic Stability Controls, which will help
with rollovers, but not with endangering other peoples' lives. That giant SUV's bumper is still going to be at window
level, rather than hitting your reinforced door panel. The oversized off road tires, that, in many cases, have never
left pavement, can still easily carry three tons of steel up and onto your head.
How are SUVs harmful to the environment?
SUVs and trucks are allowed to produce more pollution. That's one of the first things that needs to change. They expel
obscenely large percentages more carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides than passenger cars. Even newer, more fuel efficient,
less polluting models, and hybrid SUVs, aren't meeting the same standards. Not even close. I agree with the head of the
International Energy Agency, who recommends that if you buy a SUV, keep it parked.
What are some of your personal experiences with SUVs?
I can't begin to tell you about all of my experiences w/ SUVs, from seeing them take up two parking spaces, to nearly
getting killed because the SUV driver either didn't see me, or didn't care. I've seen a SUV on the freeway (single
commuter mind you) who was cutting people off, missing cars by inches, and when he came up next to me, kept jerking
his monstrosity over until I moved out of his way. Luckily there was nobody in the other lane next to me. That was
completely intentional, and it may give SUV drivers a bad name, but I've also been close to getting crushed because
the SUV driver was talking on the phone and not paying attention while changing lanes, or couldn't see me in their huge
blind spot and tried to drive through me to go straight instead of turn in one of two turn lanes (I was in the other).
What kind of response has BanSUVs.com received?
I do get a fair amount of hate mail, between the two Anti-SUV sites, and it's mostly comical. I've put the best of the
worst on the web sites (click on Hate Mail at the bottom) with my responses. If the Pro-SUV crowd really is as poorly
spoken and uneducated as those who email me, then natural selection will take its course and it's just a matter of time
before this resolves itself...
|
