Reply #4: I'm glad you asked...

[Vektor]

And I disagree with the unfair judgment.
I am an SUV owner. After being hit, and nearly killed TWICE by drunk drivers while I was in a small car, I feel safer in an SUV. With airbags on every inch. Considering my two prior cars were turned into crumpled tin cans while I was in them, I thought it was time to upgrade to something a little more sturdy. I had an Explorer for a while, but sold it. What I have now is not the biggest behemoth on the road - not an Excursion or a Suburban, but a Toyota 4-Runner, mid-sized, and manufactured by the only automaker on buyblue.org that is listed as a Democratic donor.

I have no regrets.

1) The roll-over issue - yes, they are more prone to rolling over, but they are far safer than small cars in other ways, as well. Also, I survived a roll-over, (in a MINI VAN!) and if you have your seatbelt on, you likely will too, in the unfortunate event you're in one. Head on collisions are the ones you DO NOT want to get in, especially in a small car. Any model of car has things about it that make it more safe, or less safe than others. Driving safely works wonders in avoiding roll-overs, and most newer models of SUVs have many stability features which prevent rollovers as well. Pick-ups and mini-vans also are prone to rolling over, not just SUV's.

2) The gas. I have gotten flak from many of my city dwelling friends who drive older economy cars, about my SUV. Yes, their cars get about twice the gas mileage my vehicle gets...AND they commute about 50 miles a day for work, plus use their car for various other errands, most of them putting well over 20,000 miles a year on their car. I rarely drive, and there are some whole weeks my car sits in the driveway untouched. I live in a smaller town, and can walk to work - on the days I drive, it's about two miles. My Explorer, which I traded in recently to get my current vehicle was a 1996 model with 50,000 miles on it. That's about 5.5 thousand miles a year compared to my friends who drive more economical cars but put 20,000 per year on them. Do the math - who uses more gas? They do. As do most who commute long distances...even in a hybrid. It's not just the size of your car, its HOW OFTEN you drive it also.

3) The why. I live in a rural-ish area, plus own property in a mountainous area that has many 4WD accessible only areas. I am an outdoors person, who needs a larger vehicle to transport sporting equipment. I am also a charitable person who has adopted two large dogs from the pound, and I like having an area in back I can put a pet gate on, and take them places with me with comfort and ease. I am an avid gardener, I plant a LOT of trees on my property (environmentally friendly person that I am) as well as doing volunteer landscaping work for hospitals and elderly-care homes. Hauling potted plants, trees, shrubs, and yes BUSHES, plus gardening equipment requires a large vehicle. And yes, I DO live in Schwarzenegger's California, but we have some the strictest smog and emission regulations in the nation on our vehicles. If your car doesn't pass, you don't drive it.

4) I CARPOOL! I do not drive a lot, but when I do, it is usually on an occasional road trip, or to work, and that keeps five other cars off the road that day.

So...SUV owners can be responsible and conscientious, and do not deserve to be called stupid. I care about the earth - I recycle, I plant trees, I adopt shelter animals, I volunteer at health care facilities, support progressive/charitable causes, and yes, I own an SUV. And I am responsible about it. Not stupid.

This is an ugly and unfair stereotype.