Americans have gotten a jaded view of what is considered "safe" in an automobile. Most people value "survival" features of the car like a full frame that won't collapse in collisions, air bags, and shoulder belts for all passengers, and the like. These features though protect passengers AFTER the fact.

Now, I am not saying these features are bad, but that typically collision AVODANCE features really do not share the same glory as the survival devices do. For instance, most people consider good handling as more of a fun feature than a safety feature. Most Americans though would rather have a suspension that is loose and sloppy for a soft ride, than a firm one that would give good response in emergency situations. Same goes with brakes. Large, heavy duty brakes, like the ones featured on our SAAB's, hardly spark the interest that air bags do when someone is looking for safety in a vehicle. People also don't consider things like rack & pinion steering with good feedback, or even good seating (that reduces fatigue) as safety features.

The problem that I see however is that most people out there out on the highway do not see the automobile as a dangrous machine that needs to be respected. I imagine much of this is a unintended consequence from all the safety improvements automobiles have come under over the years. People just think that they are invinceable behind all that metal. Or, it could be that with all the luxuries in vehicles these days, from climate control systems, smooth engines, entertainment systems and the like, that we have gotten disconnected with the fact that when driving, you are operating a a complex, dangerous device. Drivers... and not just SUV drivers...speed around carelessly cutting off other drivers, blowing red signals, disobeying laws, and just plain being inconsiderate to the other users of the road out there.

Would the same careless driver of a motor vehicle also operate a backhoe with the same carelessness, or what about other types of heavy machinery, like a farm tractor, how about a table saw, or a metal stamper....probably not! All these machines sort of "connect" more with the user. They don't have many visible safety features, and require active attention to their operation, they vibrate and shake during operation, and produce lots of noise

posted by 70.16.252...

• Snow & SUV Hell, Russell Giuliano, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 06:28:13
  • Sh*tty ugly vehicle, john, Mon, 28 Mar 2005 07:15:09
  • It amazes me when opinion get so personal..., JDSaab, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 15:26:58
    • nothing personal here either, Steven W, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 20:12:58
      • You won't catch me near a Stanley, only Plumb!, GregR, Thu, 3 Mar 2005 05:25:38
    • Hey, nothing personal here ....., vsfoxe , Wed, 2 Mar 2005 18:28:22
  • Cool rant!, Saana88 , Tue, 1 Mar 2005 20:55:06
    • Even my VAN is better than most SUV's, Steven W, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 14:19:34
  • Russ,I luve ya' babe, but I se another side..., Chaz, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 19:31:56
    • Re: Russ,I luve ya' babe, but I se another side..., jp, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 14:41:10
      • Unibody construction is what I meant, and you are wrong, Chaz, Fri, 4 Mar 2005 04:05:46
    • I'm no stranger to the SUV either, Russell Giuliano, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 20:40:47
      • accident survival vs accident avoidence, steven W, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 16:44:40 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Patience...they end upside down soon., JohnB, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 15:44:47
    • Oh yea, I' ALL TOO FAMILIAR with idiot DC drivers, Steve W, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 16:47:30
    • Re: Patience...they end upside down soon., arabiflora , Wed, 2 Mar 2005 00:43:08
  • I'm impartial. But will clearly state that if....., vsfoxe , Tue, 1 Mar 2005 15:06:49
    • I helped stir it up, so I kinda' have to stay in?, JDSaab, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:29:43
      • Our troops are defending your right to drive an SUV n, Russell Giuliano, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 04:17:26
    • Ouch...my Audi 4.2A6 weighs 4068 lbs..., JohnB, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 15:46:21
  • Just so I understand this correctly..., JDSaab, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 09:42:09
    • what's wrong with TWO vehicles???, Steven W, Wed, 2 Mar 2005 14:22:45
    • No, you don't get it, Russell Giuliano, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 11:30:24
      • Re: No, you don't get it, Pete Kelly, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 13:13:46
      • Thanks for the help on what SUV means..., JDSaab, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 12:22:44
    • The whole SUV-pickup thing, RayF, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 11:19:33
    • Re: Just so I understand this correctly..., Finch, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 10:40:53
  • Re: Snow & SUV Hell, saabrocket, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 07:10:18
    • Re: Snow & SUV Hell, Pete Kelly, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 08:13:58
      • the disco.., KTurner, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 11:25:38
        • Re: the disco.., sandy hague, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 16:20:12
        • Re: the disco..it's a series 2 and I agree, Pete Kelly, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 13:04:22
          • generalizations=love/hate, sandy hague, Tue, 1 Mar 2005 16:14:37

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