GIRL, GRANDMA KILLED AS SUV JUMPS CURB

NY Post ^ | 06/24/02 | LARRY CELONA, ROOSEVELT JOSEPH, WILLIAM NEUMAN

[apochromat]

Maybe people with math anxiety shouldn't drive large vehicles.

[maxwell]

The change in momentum (and therefore the impact force) of the SUV is essentially negligible compared to that of the pedestrian.

Yep. Like an electron hitting a W atom. Minor excitations but can approximate with Franck-Condon.

[Koblenz]

I don't have anything against SUVs, but I think that in general, many people drive SUVs who really shouldn't. When I was growing up, SUVs were mainly the domain of rural folk. Us suburbanites drove around in large station wagons. But the US government put a law into place stating that the average fleet MPG had to be 27.5 mpg for cars, and less for trucks. SUVs are trucks, so they're exempt from this rule, while station wagons were not exempt. So there are basically no more large station wagons produced that can appeal to someone with three kids, especially if one or two child seats are required to boot.

I'm not against urbanites or suburbanites driving SUVs, but they have to realize that SUVs have a higher center of gravity, and do not handle like a compact car. To paraphrase Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility. SUV drivers do pay higher insurance, which is of course warranted. In this case, the driver, while making a mistake, should be at fault: she was driving something that she could not control. I don't know if there's any criminal liability -- probably not -- but of course there should be civil liability. This will probably be paid for by her insurance company, which will use this to raise her rates in the future and likely insurance rates of all SUVs as well. It is less likely that a sober person driving a car in good weather could cause a similar accident. Possible, sure, but less likely.

[Seruzawa]

Myself, I drive a 4X4 3/4 Ton HD chev pickup. Unlike too many of the SUV driving fools I see I realize that the greater mass of the vehicle requires that I pay more attention to my speed and the conditions of the road and traffic. The greater mass of the heavy vehicle requires a greater responsibility for the driver since the potential to create damage is greater.

I have seen too darned many dangerous lunatics blasting down the highway at 80+ in their Ford F350s pulling a big trailer and tailgating people in sedans. Such people should be permanently banned from driving.

I have nothing against SUVs. Far from it. My last vehicle was a full-sized 2-door Blazer. Here where it snows they can be invaluable (though a Subaru will do the job 99% of the time). But I am appalled by the numerous incidents I see of incompetent drivers literally getting away with murder like the dumbsh*t lady above. And not just SUVs. You don't just "lose control" of your car. 99% of the time it is simple incompetence and/or failure to do proper maintenance of the vehicle, like driving on bald tires.

What is it with our culture that allows anyone to drive like a fool and get away with murdering people and then not even get a ticket? The driver is fully responsible for what his/her vehicle does. Why are these dangerous and careless killers allowed to get off scotfree?

[b-cubed]

Boy am I glad that I'm not old enough to remember what
LSMFT means. Besides that I prefer Old Golds'.

[freekitty]

Yep..this is the second SUV story I have heard in the last two days. They sure want to rid us of them.

[mattdono]

I don't think that I can take this anymore...

A few points I agree with you on:

1. CAFE standards, implemented by the imperial federal government, are THE cause for the proliferation of SUVs.
2. People should be held liable (even criminally, if appropriate) for their actions.
3. Things like this can happen...after all, accidents do happen

A few points that I disagree on:

1. Accidents will happen whether or not you are driving an SUV, whether you are in the city or the country. In fact, there is evidence that SUVs protect people better anyway.
2. It is none of the government's (or your) business what I drive or where I choose to drive
3. Though I am sure that you respect property rights in general (seeing as how you describe yourself as a conservative libertarian), it shouldn't matter to you what I drive (I didn't make fun of you for driving a Saab...Oopps!)

Seriously though, I am not trying to rag on you, but you seem to be making an argument against the idea personal liberty and private ownership...and that, I am afraid, I can't agree with.

[Palmetto]

Like an electron hitting a W atom.

Or, to carry the analogy a bit further, like an electron hitting an H atom for that matter, which would represent the Yugo case.

[timestax]

You really have to watch for these women in the SUV's when you are in parking lots of malls and strip malls. The women are so excited and impatient to start "a buying" that thay make real big turns. They should be given special training for SUV's. They just can't seem to handle the turns!

[timestax]

bttt

[cubreporter]

Nothing to do with an SUV or Compact. The fact is a vehicle jumped a curb and now a woman is without her mother and one of her daughters. Some of the comments here are not appropriate at all. Some of them are downright disrespectful to those who are now gone. I would hope we could just say a prayer for the victims and leave it at that. Rest in peace.

[cubreporter]

Nothing to do with an SUV or Compact. The fact is a vehicle jumped a curb and now a woman is without her mother and one of her daughters. Some of the comments here are not appropriate at all. Some of them are downright disrespectful to those who are now gone. I would hope we could just say a prayer for the victims and leave it at that. Rest in peace.

[r9etb]

D=1/2*rho*S*Cd*V^2

Are you telling us that the Corvette curb-jumping is drag-related?

As in, "There I (Palmetto) was, walking along the sidewalk in drag, as always, when all'va sudden this Corvette comes jumpin' the curb in front of me!"

I interpret your post as a cry for help! ;-)

[Xenalyte]

Oh yeah? I see your Gobots and your Transformers, and I raise you a Shogun Warrior!

[Xenalyte]

Houston's SUV drivers are incapable of parking, driving, or (I suspect) coloring within the lines.

[Xenalyte]

Wonder what's there to be 'protected' from in heaven? Anyone know?

The Pledge, apparently. Word is they say it up there nonstop.

[RightWhale]

That's right. A SUV is today's station wagon or estate wagon or whatever you want to call it. We have stuff. Stuff needs to be moved. Wagons move stuff. Therefore, SUVs.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

My Grandizer eats your Shogun Warrior, Xenalyte-san.

[Palmetto]

As in, "There I (Palmetto) was, walking along the sidewalk in drag, as always, when all'va sudden this Corvette comes jumpin' the curb in front of me!"

I interpret your post as a cry for help! ;-)

D'oh!

I am undone...

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

No, I mean really....would you mind zipping up my back for me?

/drag

[stainlessbanner]

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors!