http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701812.html
I thought this was an interesting article, because it showed how gas prices are affecting the united states. The demand for SUV's is dropping significantly, because people are looking for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The gas prices have become so high, that many people would rather buy smaller cars, and spend less on gas. This could potentially cause a lot of damage to some states, especially those who suffer severe winter climates (wisconsin for example), because people will be buying smaller cars to save money, but will be forced to drive these cars during the crappy winter weather, which could potentially raise the amount of accidents in these states.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
are all smaller vehicles worse in snow than suvs? the higher center of gravity of larger vehicles suggests that they would be more likely to tip over. the gross driving conditions may also just keep more people off the road, making things safer. if suvs really are safer, then people should be more willing to carpool, too. i'm probably way off on this, but i think that the benefits of smaller cars outweigh the positives of larger cars (for me, at least).
Oooh...interesting! Another one I'll hold off on commenting on 'til next week, but...
Are SUV's really safer?
(Okay, some of you cheaters have already seen my opinion on where that's coming from on other people's blogs) :)
I disagree; I think people will be safer in the long run with less SUV's on the road. (I think this might be where Mrs. McDaniel is going with this idea. It's from Freakonomics, a book about economics kind of like Naked Economics.) But anyway, the average size of cars has increased greatly during our lifetimes. My old granny car is a '91 and at the time it was comparatively large. Now, however, when I'm driving I often get overshadowed by big trucks and SUV's that I can't see around because I sit too low. When people start to not be able to see, they want to get a bigger car that will 1) allow them to see and 2) protect them from getting in an accident with another big car. If my good 'ole granny car comes in contact with a Chevy Suburban, I think I know who's going to win. If people start driving smaller cars, however, less people will feel the need to drive big cars to feel safe. That's just my view though.
I personally am not a fan of the SUV. Well, I am because they're pretty and comfortable, but big things on the road scare me...especially if I run into them (though I haven't yet, knock on wood).
This was totally bound to happen. As cars get more and more fuel-efficient people are going to become so much less willing to buy those gas-guzzlers unless they're extremely cheap initially. Just like we were saying in class the other day, there's such a high demand for the prius that people have to wait to get them.
Man, I wish I had the cash to stop driving my beast and buy a civic!
Abby - way to bring physics into this! haha
I think that if America truly is following suit in investing in more fuel-efficient cars, then eventually so many people will have and want them that the car companies will make an effor to make these smaller cars better in the snow. Then they wouldn't put as much effort into making SUV's, and more people would buy small cars because they're safer, hence even less SUV's. All it takes (which is much easier said than done) is enough people pushing for safe, small cars.
On if SUV's are really safe or not, it's the same chain reaction. One may buy an SUV because they want to feel safe on the road with other big cars, but then other people will small cars will feel unsafe, causing them to buy an SUV, and so on. What we choose to purchase influence what other's buy as well.
Having an SUV and a small car to drive in the snow and other conditions I would say that I definitely feel much safer in the SUV! Maybe it's because of the four wheel drive, but it seems like being in the bigger car keeps me from sliding all over the road. plus in snow getting stuck is much more likely in my little car than in a big car. I would say that for me having a SUV or 4 wheel drive car of some sort is a must in wisconsin.
Post a Comment