Bigger Vehicles & The Dangers They Present

Trucks and SUVs have become a lot more prevalent in the past decade. The increase in average vehicle weight creates a disproportionate distribution of safety. This video discusses the consequences and solutions to this problem.

Sources

Jalopnik Actually, The SUV-Defeating Rock Is Good:

Jalopnik Let's Remember Some Hero Rocks:

Additional Reading & Viewing:

[TheRoamingHazard]

I feel a large percentage of truck owners virtually never do truck things that would justify having one. It's an image for far too many.

[platterjockey]

The first people to complain about gas prices are the pickup and SUV owners. No one told them to go out and buy them. Did they think gas prices would stay low forever?

[artirony]

bruh that lady saying they should exile the rock because people keep hitting it

the rock didn't do anything wrong lol

[mikko.g]

Marketers are good at getting certain people to fill their insecurities with large dangerous vehicles at their own expense. I do chuckle when I hear them complain about the cost they pay for fuel, though less so when they nearly smack me with their mirrors as they angrily accelerate past my bike.

[hendman]

Seems especially SUV's are not only more dangerous for other road users, but also to the passengers of the SUV's themselves, due to a higher risk of rollover accidents. Ironic, isn't it?

[elijahstewart]

and for some reason environmentalists and SUV owners in general hate sportscars for being "polluting, douchebaggy and dangerous"

sportscars generally get the same or better gas mileage as an SUV while being driven a fraction of the miles a year, being safer for pedestrians, and GENERALLY having drivers more skiller and aware than the general public. not to mention most SUVs now are as fast as sportscars, which is scary

[poorlittlebiker]

That last bit about the licensing is what boils my blood now that I think about it. I have three different classes of licenses, a CDL (with passenger, school bus, and tanker endorsements), motorcycle, and my regular class C. To call anything at the DMV a "skills test" is a joke. The fact that as a CDL holder, we have more restrictions, regulations, and are subject to drug screenings compared to a regular license holder is insane. It gets even more crazier to think that that a regular license allows you to drive anything as small as a smart car, to as big as a full size RV with no REQUIRED training! Not to mention, you can also pull trailers, which as far my knowledge goes, trailers aren't covered in any road test at the DMV, or weight ratings for that matter. To add salt to the wound, renewing your license is just paying a fee and passing some BS vision exam, not to update you on new laws or test your ability to drive. If it was more challenging to actually get your license I bet we would have a high demand for public transportation then!

[knarf_on_a_bike]

Bang on! I got hit from behind by a pickup truck last month. He "didn't see me" over his huge hood. I suspect he was on his phone or texting as well, but can't prove it. My back wheel was destroyed but luckily the rest of my bicycle survived. As did I; after an evening at the hospital, all came up negative. It could have been far worse. . .

[falcoperegrinus]

Another reason for huge cars in America: their "I got mine, so fvck everyone else" mentality.

[Mikeab]

Car makers get away with selling these and not having to follow the same rules as other vehicles for safety and fuel consumption because they’re classified as “light trucks”

[paulcarlachapman]

At the moment I drive a Prius and my husband, a Civic. It is incredibly difficult to manage parking lots safely since we almost never can see well until having slowly backed out past the monsters on either side of us. Huge vehicles are a nuisance in many ways, aside from being dangerous.

[elias]

seems like we should start adding giant rocks to fight back the spread of giant trucks

[bananewane]

I like my small car, I can fit through narrower gaps, less likely to hit things, more agile and maneuverable, less inertial, easier to fit in parking spaces.

[romeonijsse]

Recently I got run over while riding my bicycle. I am forever grateful that it was a medium sized European car (Peugeot) which are designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Imagine it was a large truck!

[silentsong]

two of my coworkers—twin sisters and preschool teachers, were killed by a drunk driver in a stolen truck while in their sedan. when i saw pictures of the wreck i just broke down. the whole roof was torn off and the car as a whole wasn’t even recognizable as a -car-. there was only one survivor out of the group they were with.

[machinerin]

"Gas price increases will reduce vehicle weight!"
Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevy Silverado EV: *Are we a joke to you?*

[AdamSchellRacing]

This is why I like the old ford Rangers. Its the size of a small car but can still be used as a work vehicle or for general transporting and I can fit in many places a big truck cant go.

[Mantis]

I have a 2006 dodge ram 4x4 cummins diesel I use for work. Today's trucks dwarf mine. Today's pickups hoods sit a foot and a half taller than mine.
Don't worry y'all, I put more miles on my bicycle than this truck.

[noahhancke]

Algorithm sent me your way after subscribing to first NJB and then CityNerd. When I discovered your channel, I read the name and felt like it might be true that there's not much to add to the already existing urbanist channels. Nevertheless, I liked the self-irony and gave your videos a try. I don't regret it at all! You are a great addition to other urbanists and deliver a well-researched, to the point analysis with every release. Keep up the good work! Greetings from Germany :)

[deadduck]

I wish one could devise a study on this phenomena of replacing your car every 3 or so years. I've had my one truck for 15 years -- its all I drive, and I feel very comfortable in it. I know its blind spots, I know its turning limits, I know how much the back wheels cut into my turns, I know where its front and back end are (without cameras) to within about 12 inches which is more than enough for most situations. But these things I've learned came at a cost. I know its blind spots because I almost changed lanes into someone. I know its turning limits because I once skid off the road while turning. I know how much its back wheels cut turns because when turning out of a parking lot, my front wheels made it, but my back wheels hit a curb and so on. When you change vehicles, you have to relearn all of these things and I just don't see how I'm any different than anyone else in this regard.