The Aptera is a death trap!

[n_dawg]

Ever heard that claim before? Maybe in the comments section of an online news article, or from a friend who you just showed pictures of the Aptera? S.U.V, and Truck drivers boast about how safe their vehicles are, and how small vehicles (and their drivers) will be crushed like bugs on American highways.

I found an excellent article from the New Yorker. It gets into the history of S.U.V.s, the minds of S.U.V. drivers, and ultimately explains why the S.U.V. mentality is making everyone on the road less safe. That including S.U.V. drivers.

Big and Bad: How the S.U.V. ran over automotive safety.

[CandidQuality]

Thanks for the article.

[Mzbhavn]

I own several large and or heavy truck type vehicles, and I drive heavy equipment now and again. And I would have to say that the blame lies squarely on the operator of the vehicle and driving style of the person. If you pull out in front of a cement truck you had better be going a whole lot faster or you will be over run or run over. Also If you drive something that large it does not mean you should be "king of the road" and that kind of mass is not a fast manuverable formula one car. Be aware of what is going on and watch out for everone one the road.

[KarenRei]

Great article, n_dawg.

[evolutionmovement]

Everyone I talk to disdains SUVs and thinks the Aptera is a great idea (though most say they need a 4-seater). It's basic physics. SUVs are the result of this country preferring to teach pop culture and that status objects comprise a person's identity instead of science and how to use their brains for intelligent thought.

[mmalc]

Originally Posted by Mzbhavn

[...] I would have to say that the blame lies squarely on the operator of the vehicle and driving style of the person. If you pull out in front of a cement truck you had better be going a whole lot faster or you will be over run or run over. Also If you drive something that large it does not mean you should be "king of the road" and that kind of mass is not a fast manuverable formula one car.

The final point there contradicts the first.

All other things being equal, the fact that a large vehicle like an SUV is not as maneuverable as a smaller lighter car means that -- precisely as the original article sets out -- you're less likely to be able to avoid an accident. Or if you manage to avoid one accident you're more likely to get into another one.

Certainly personality and other human factors play a part, and I've encountered obnoxious drivers of small cars and courteous drivers of behemoths, but on the whole I've found that the drivers of the behemoths are more likely to be the obnoxious ones. This simply serves to compound the problem...

[Mzbhavn]

but thats what I mean the operator is responsible for the decicion to put physics in motion, abiltity of the car, the drivers ability and attitude. Any vehical can be a death trap. Thats also why motorcycle riders have their opinions of most motorist not knowing or caring for them and they are extra careful most of the time. Just think of everything you are going to have to watch out for as you zoom down the street in your aptera because none of the other drivers around you are going to be aware of because you will be the focus of there attention.

[Ricky Ray]

They are known as Stupid Utility Vehicles in these parts ;o)

[mmalc]

Originally Posted by Mzbhavn

but thats what I mean the operator is responsible for the decicion to put physics in motion, abiltity of the car, the drivers ability and attitude. Any vehical can be a death trap. Thats also why motorcycle riders have their opinions of most motorist not knowing or caring for them and they are extra careful most of the time. Just think of everything you are going to have to watch out for as you zoom down the street in your aptera because none of the other drivers around you are going to be aware of because you will be the focus of there attention.

I wrote, "All other things being equal". There are situations when no matter how good a driver you are, something unexpected happens. Again as I wrote, this is precisely what the original article focuses on. In these cases, no matter how good the driver, physics takes over. And that's where the behemoth will typically put you in a worse position than a smaller more nimble vehicle.

The observation that more behemoth-drivers seem to have a worse attitude and a worse perception of their surroundings than drivers of smaller vehicles simply compounds the problem. When some oaf cuts across three lanes of highway in front of me to scramble over the divider between the freeway and the exit they weren't paying attention to, chances are they're driving a truck or SUV rather than a Yaris.

[Stroke]

I have owned many small cars over the years and always experienced the nimbleness of all of them, these were Peugeot, VW bug, another Peugeot, another VW Dasher, ACamry, and last a Honda and a Prius. The last American Sedan I owned was a Desota, big powerful, but don't get stuck in snow and no rapid wheel movements, or your front will end up behind you. Granted all cars have vastly improved, but American companies only improved because of the foreign competition. The article on the SUV s shortcomings were right on the money and the attitudes SUV owners display are also right on target. One time in Germany a truck went totally out of control so I pulled off the road , on the shoulder, do you know he still brushed my car????