Sport Utility Vehicles

Once upon a time they were big. Then they grew huge. Now they are shrinking, but remain uncivilized.

U.S. Auto Deaths Hit 12-Year High in 2002

Reuters, July 17, 2003, By John Crawley

Washington -- "The number of people killed in sport utility rollover crashes rose 14 percent last year as total highway deaths hit a 12-year high at nearly 43,000, the U.S. government reported on Thursday.

The Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reported that car crash injuries fell to an all-time low in 2002.

Child and pedestrian deaths also went down as did fatalities involving large trucks.

But in 2002, SUV rollover fatalities jumped to more than 2,400 victims, an increase of 14 percent over last year."

1. My primary vehicle is a:

Sports car
SUV
Light truck
Compact auto
Mid-size auto
Full-size auto

2. To the right is a list of various SUV-type vehicles with examples of each. Select the size that you would prefer to own.

Huge (Ford Expedition, etc.)
Large (Lincoln Navigator, etc.)
Medium (Jeep Cherokee, etc.)
Light (Rav4, etc.)
New sport-ute / station wagon style
Other:

3. I don't have an SUV yet, but I am planning to get one soon.

Agree
Disagree

4. SUV drivers are generally more aggressive.

Agree
Disagree

5. SUV's are generally not attractive.

Agree
Disagree

6. I would pay more for an SUV over a traditional auto.

Agree
Disagree

7. SUV's are less safe than traditional full-size automobiles.

Agree
Disagree

8. The reason SUV's have inadequate brakes, bumpers & safety equipment is that the US Congress allowed automobile standards to apply to light trucks (including SUVs) in 1994. This saved manufacturers the added costs of more stringent light truck standards for brakes, lights, bumpers & visibility.

True
Not true

9. SUV's pollute more than traditional full-size automobiles because the US Congress allowed lower emission standards for SUV's than for automobiles. This saved manufacturers the costs of meeting more stringent auto emission standards.

True
Not true

10. Ford Motor Corporation stated in its 2000 annual report that SUVs are environmentally unfriendly, gas-gusslers, and more dangerous.
Responses to the survey statements are:

Statement summary	True	Not true
SUV's are less gas-efficient, more dangerous and pollute more than automobiles.	18%	82%

Can you explain why many people fail to understand what Ford admits is fact?

11. Do you support the US government's proposed legislation limiting SUV's pollution to no more than automobile pollution?

Yes
No

12. Some psychologists suggest that the broad appeal of SUV's indicates there are a large number of people in the 21 to 45 age group who remain juvenile. That is, they have not outgrown their childhood desires to play with toys --- including SUV's that have capabilities most of these people have no need for.

Agree
Disagree

13. I am:

Female
Male

14. My age group is:

Under 20
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 & older

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