Urban 4x4 haters

[Man of Harveys]

How topical. No further comment needed, really:


4x4 owners suffer a dent to their image

New research reveals 4x4 drivers have a worse driving record than owners of other cars. They are more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving, speeding and driving without due care than other motorists and are also more likely to be at fault for an accident.

Leading financial intermediary Admiral has looked at the driving records of over 38,000 4x4 owners. It has found that the bad reputation they have amongst other road users may be justified, they are 11% more likely to have a motoring conviction and 27% more likely to be the cause of an accident than other motorists.

Admiral managing director, Ceri Assiratti, commented: "4x4 drivers have come in for a lot of flak recently. We wanted to see what their driving record was like as a whole and sadly for them our research doesn't help their image.

"One theory as to why they have a worse driving record is that perhaps they feel safer in their larger vehicles and so happier to take risks."

Admiral's research was based on data from its database of over one million motorists. It looked at the motoring convictions they had and the number of accidents where they had been at fault. It found that 4x4 owners are:

11% more likely to be convicted of speeding
11% more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving
15% more likely to convicted of driving without due care
27% more likely to be involved in an accident for which they are at fault

Ceri Assiratti, continued: "There are good and bad drivers of all types of car but our research suggests that as a group 4x4 owners have a worse record than other motorists. However we have no intention of raising their premiums based on this. We look at every driver's own circumstances."


Issue date: 13-07-05

 

[Lammy]

My kids are safe and that is the only thing I am concerned about. So yeah, we're alright, jack.

Is cotten wool part of their school uniform?

How about thinking about the environment they and their children will be growing up in. It's called the bigger picture. By driving you 4x4 you are making it more dangerous for all those children who cycle and walk to school.

 

[Easy 10]

"One theory as to why they have a worse driving record is that perhaps they feel safer in their larger vehicles and so happier to take risks."

Nail. On. Head.

The feeling of "f*** you" invincibility of 4x4 drivers comes across loud and clear. I nearly ploughed into the side of one along Shoreham High Street about a month ago (it was a bloke driving this time), when he pulled out of that little one-way sidestreet to turn right, cutting in front of me and nearly taking my front-right wing off in the process.

Wankers.

 

[The Large One]

Are you serious?

There is no way my children will ride on a bus unless they are fitted with proper belts and car seats. Unfortunately this country is incredibly backward in child restraints and passenger safety so I doubt that will happen in my kids life times.

I drive a 4 x 4, would be happier driving something smaller but I can't fit the car seats across a car and am not about to ditch them in favour of being a bit more environmentally friendly, my kids come first.

We just went yesterday and ordered a brand spanking new 4 x 4. We have a looong wait until it arrives though.

Your children's safety in a relatively unsafe vehicle is very important, that's fine and understood.

But your cavalier attitude to the environment, and ultimately your children's health, makes me feel that all of the excess taxes that can and will be dumped upon you sound like they are well deserved.

 

[Man of Harveys]

I don't actually mind it at all when people are proud not to give a shit about the impact of driving their far more dangerous, environmentally-damaging, ugly American-wannabe cars.

Because, later on, it makes me feel better when I see them boo-hooing about, say, a bigger congestion charge than proper cars, or by being hit with higher road tax on them, or even when fuel prices go up (because they get hit much harder than proper cars when they do).

More stick and less carrot when dealing with thick, selfish tossbags whose children won't be able to breathe in towns when they grow up, I say.

 

[JJ McClure]

How topical. No further comment needed, really:


4x4 owners suffer a dent to their image

New research reveals 4x4 drivers have a worse driving record than owners of other cars. They are more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving, speeding and driving without due care than other motorists and are also more likely to be at fault for an accident.

Leading financial intermediary Admiral has looked at the driving records of over 38,000 4x4 owners. It has found that the bad reputation they have amongst other road users may be justified, they are 11% more likely to have a motoring conviction and 27% more likely to be the cause of an accident than other motorists.

Admiral managing director, Ceri Assiratti, commented: "4x4 drivers have come in for a lot of flak recently. We wanted to see what their driving record was like as a whole and sadly for them our research doesn't help their image.

"One theory as to why they have a worse driving record is that perhaps they feel safer in their larger vehicles and so happier to take risks."

Admiral's research was based on data from its database of over one million motorists. It looked at the motoring convictions they had and the number of accidents where they had been at fault. It found that 4x4 owners are:

11% more likely to be convicted of speeding
11% more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving
15% more likely to convicted of driving without due care
27% more likely to be involved in an accident for which they are at fault

Ceri Assiratti, continued: "There are good and bad drivers of all types of car but our research suggests that as a group 4x4 owners have a worse record than other motorists. However we have no intention of raising their premiums based on this. We look at every driver's own circumstances."


Issue date: 13-07-05

Interesting stuff. I wonder if they could do a similar study on BMW drivers.

 

[Rougvie]

Your children's safety in a relatively unsafe vehicle is very important, that's fine and understood.

But your cavalier attitude to the environment, and ultimately your children's health, makes me feel that all of the excess taxes that can and will be dumped upon you sound like they are well deserved.

 

[The Large One]

Interesting stuff. I wonder if they could do a similar study on BMW drivers.

It was Volvos in the 1980s, if I recall correctly.

 

[Lammy]

It was Volvos in the 1980s, if I recall correctly.

Volvo drivers can't park. Whenever a car park is full I GUARENTEE you will find a volvo parked over two spaces.

 

[Man of Harveys]

Are school buses really "relatively unsafe" compared to fat and ugly cars? Is that the case even in the US, where they have very strictly-enforced rules about ALL traffic having to stop - on both sides of the road, no less - while the kids get in and out of the school bus, i.e. when the red lights are flashing? I don't know, I'm asking.

 

[Lammy]

Are school buses really "relatively unsafe" compared to fat and ugly cars? Is that the case even in the US, where they have very strictly-enforced rules about ALL traffic having to stop - on both sides of the road, no less - while the kids get in and out of the school bus, i.e. when the red lights are flashing? I don't know, I'm asking.

I'd like see some stats about the relative safty of riding in a school bus with no seat belts as opposed to being strapping in a car seat in a car.

Statistically I'd bet it's a greater risk being in a car. Buses don't tend to crash that much. People tend to see them coming and giveway.

My daugter has ridden in a bus several times in her buggy. She even came to Lewes this moring on the train with me as the car is being serviced.

My I guess I'm just reckless like that.

 

[Easy 10]

I'd be interested to see stats for the number of casualties suffered by passengers travelling on buses (schoolbuses or otherwise). OK there's no seatbelts on buses, never has been as far as I'm aware, but they're not exactly death traps are they ? Its not as if they can get up to any great speed in town centres. I have absolutely no qualms about my kids travelling on a bus without a seatbelt. They're in more peril once they're off the bus and crossing roads (they've had the old Green Cross Code drummed into them from an early age). Jees, you can't wrap them up in cotton wool all their lives.

 

[Easy 10]

I'd like see some stats about the relative safty of riding in a school bus with no seat belts as opposed to being strapping in a car seat in a car.

Statistically I'd bet it's a greater risk being in a car. Buses don't tend to crash that much. People tend to see them coming and giveway.

My daugter has ridden in a bus several times in her buggy. She even came to Lewes this moring on the train with me as the car is being serviced.

My I guess I'm just reckless like that.

snap

 

[bhaexpress]

Are school buses really "relatively unsafe" compared to fat and ugly cars? Is that the case even in the US, where they have very strictly-enforced rules about ALL traffic having to stop - on both sides of the road, no less - while the kids get in and out of the school bus, i.e. when the red lights are flashing? I don't know, I'm asking.

That's exactly how it is there. Overtaking a school bus that has its lights on is a far more henious offence that driving under the influence. US school buses would be the safest vehicles on the road it it weren't for the fact that their passengers sometimes stab or even shoot each other though.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Being of different geneartion to most of youse guys, I travelled on school busses from the age of 6 ( Primary school in Raventhorpe) right up until I left Falmer in 1977 ( I lived in patcham).

we never had seat belts and I can count on the fingers of one hand the times my parents drove me to school.

We never had seat belts. We used to stand up on the busses, hang out of the windows and even sat on the backs of chairs. This was in rush hour in the mornings and through Brighton in the evenings.

I felt 100% safe.

I just feel this is another one of those 90's/00's faddy things where people believe they have a "right" to do just what the hell they like and to hell with anyone else and the environment.

Whilst I would not legislate to ban 4x4's, I do think it odd that people who live in towns seem to want to drive them....if you lived in the country or on a farm I could understand it.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I'd be interested to see stats for the number of casualties suffered by passengers travelling on buses (schoolbuses or otherwise). OK there's no seatbelts on buses, never has been as far as I'm aware, but they're not exactly death traps are they ? .

I took the school bus from first year of primary school until I left sixth form. I survived. Therefore, going on this (not very) random sample school buses are 100% safe.

 

[bhaexpress]

Being of different geneartion to most of youse guys, I travelled on school busses from the age of 6 ( Primary school in Raventhorpe) right up until I left Falmer in 1977 ( I lived in patcham).

we never had seat belts and I can count on the fingers of one hand the times my parents drove me to school.

We never had seat belts. We used to stand up on the busses, hang out of the windows and even sat on the backs of chairs. This was in rush hour in the mornings and through Brighton in the evenings.

I felt 100% safe.

I just feel this is another one of those 90's/00's faddy things where people believe they have a "right" to do just what the hell they like and to hell with anyone else and the environment.

Whilst I would not legislate to ban 4x4's, I do think it odd that people who live in towns seem to want to drive them....if you lived in the country or on a farm I could understand it.

Rich cousin drives a Range Rover (its a diesel). Okay, we are a bit rural here but in truth not that backwater. He's a millionaire and drives the RR because he can afford it. He has a large back garden but he never off roads. I think that's why most people don't like 4x4s as they're unnessesary. He is now looking at a Subaru Outback which is just as roomy, has 4WD, is quicker, and also cheaper to run. It'll do anything he wants from his RR without the thirst.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

My kids are safe and that is the only thing I am concerned about. So yeah, we're alright, jack.

well acknowledged use of the old "I'm just providing for/protecting my family" justification for almost anything...

 

[Starry]

Is cotten wool part of their school uniform?

How about thinking about the environment they and their children will be growing up in. It's called the bigger picture. By driving you 4x4 you are making it more dangerous for all those children who cycle and walk to school.

They won't be living in any environment if I don't have them properly restrained.

If we lived nearer the school my kids would walk or cycle. Unfortunately their school is about twenty miles away from where we live.

 

[Starry]

Your children's safety in a relatively unsafe vehicle is very important, that's fine and understood.

But your cavalier attitude to the environment, and ultimately your children's health, makes me feel that all of the excess taxes that can and will be dumped upon you sound like they are well deserved.

We've had this before about the cost - I drive a 4 x 4 because I cannot fit my car seats accross the back of another car, but at the same time I drive one and Paddy one because we can afford to fill it up, insure it blah blah. A tax of I think it was £5k per year was mooted on here won't stop me doing so.

My children's health won't be worth much when I've had them in a 3pt belt and they end up dead because I chose to drive a smaller car and not restrain them.

And as I said earlier in the thread, I'd be a lot happier driving something smaller, that has just one row in the back (because of pushchairs etc) and if you can find me a car that I can get my seats across I'd love to hear about it!