Re: LR3 was SER1 where have we gone in 60 years?

[prev] [thread] [next] [Date index for 2005/04/12]

G'Day Allan Tom and others

No your not alone.  Have you been following the contraversy with North
Sydney Council who wants to double the cost of Resident Parking Permits for
people who drive large four wheel drives with an intention to reduce the
standard rate for owners of small "environmentally friendly" vehicles.  What
an administrative nightmare.  What constitutes a large four wheel drive, my
80", a Suzuki Sierra, or just the LR Defenders, Toyota Landcruisers and Jeep
Grand Cherokee.  Where does the Subaru Forrester fit in, on that matter what
about the Subaru WRX, Jensen Interceptor or Audi Quatro their all four wheel
drive.  Then theres the equivalent sized vehicles, the variety of white vans
from everyone, Nissan, Mitsubishi. Toyota, Ford, Mercedes, VW etc and all
the people movers Chrysler Voyager, Toyota Tarago which what about the
1950's Ford Customline its as big as a Landcruiser wagon and more of a gas
guzzler.

Who makes these ideas up that 4X4's are so dangerous.  I recently heard a
presentation on driveway rollovers of children and 4X4's were over
represented in the sample. I seem to recall that about 25% were caused by
4X4's when they only make up about 5 - 10% of total registrations.  The
Hospital that did the study was Westmead Children's Hospital in western
Sydney, the following day I was in the next suburb to Westmead (picking up
80" parts) and was stopped at traffic lights.  I did a count of the cars
around me, of the 13 vehicles at the lights more than 50% of the vehicles
around me were 4X4.  Some the family car, others the plumber's work truck
etc.  As someone said there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Before I leave the subject, Yes there are some issues where the geometry of
a 4X4 and the physics of a car V' pedestrian crash where 4X4's are
dangerous.  The height of the bumper changes the first point of contact on
the pedstrian higher up so there is a greater tendency for the pedestrian to
be thrown to the ground and run over where adults are usually thrown onto
the bonnet and run under.  (Children are most frequently run over or
thrown.)  However this is the same for any vehicle with a high bumper, like
the forward control white vans.  The other issue is the high centre of
gravity and weight reducing stopping efficiency however this can be
countered by the greater visibility leading to less crashes in the first
place.  Although I haven't seen comparitive statistics for crashes per
vehicle miles travelled between cars and 4X4's, maybe no one has done them
because their not politically correct findings.

Regards
Diana



To change subscription see www.landrover.net/series1/mail