by Chauncey Dumfry

Created on: September 14, 2007   Last Updated: November 07, 2008

I noticed that the number one article on the "yes" side of this debate stated that everyone who buys an SUV buys it for the reason that it was intended. So first things first, no, they absolutely do not do this. Also, the guy says that contractors need SUV's to get to the worksite faster than they could in a pickup truck. Okay, what? are you kidding me? First of all, are contractors driving at top speed to the worksite? Because, that is the only situation where having an SUV as opposed to a pickup truck will make the difference. I happen to know from experience that all cars compact, sub-compact, SUV, pickup truck, whatever, they all are completely capable of driving at standard speed limits, so you will not get to work any faster in a chevy aveo than you will in an Escalade (unless you drive at top speed).

The next point made is that sometimes people need to bring the whole soccer team somewhere. No, they don't. What you need to do is tell some of the other parents that they need to help with the driving, or make your soccer team get a bus. That brings us to the mini van thing. The number one article for the "yes" side, states that mini vans don't have the same seating capacity as SUV's. He's absolutely right, mini vans have more seats than SUV's. Most Suv's have the standard 5 person capacity. Every mini van seats 7.
Now the reason that I'm on the no side, is that SUV's are terrible for the enviroment, the economy, and the overall safety of the nations roadways. The enviromental issues are clear. Given the global warming issues facing the world today, it is just selfish to have an SUV, why willingly be a part of the problem that could very well end life on Earth? Because you need to have a big car to drive your kids around? don't you think you should think about your kids future? The economic issues are also pretty clear, huge SUV's need huge amounts of oil. This means that the more SUV's Americans buy, the more dependent we become on foreign oil. This is a bad bad thing. Gas prices are steadily rising, and at over 3 dollars a gallon it costs a hundred dollars to fill up the tank in a luxury suv. The more dependent on foreign oil we are the more gas will cost, so in addition to the higher cost of an SUV in the first place you've got much higher upkeep and fueling costs as well.
Now the safety issue. People who drive SUVs feel safer, the idea being that if my car is bigger than yours the chance that I will be injured in a collision is lowered. However the fact that your car is huge greatly increases the chances that you will be involved in a collision. The fact that your car is tall and top heavy means that your risk of rolling over is greater. The size of your car does not matter when your rolling over and over. In addition to these issues, the safer feeling leads to more careless driving, which puts everyone on the road at risk.
Some people need SUV's, its true, but people need to stop buying them if they don't absolutely need one. Its irresponsible, ignorant, and just plain selfish. So unless you live on a dirt road, and need the high clearance, or you have some truly legitimate reason to own an suv, don't get one.

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