Date:         Sat, 9 Jan 1999 18:11:02 -0500
Reply-To:     "Robert A. Alexander" <satcong@VOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Robert A. Alexander" <satcong@VOL.COM>
Subject:      SUVs VS TINCANS!
Comments: To: "Vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Volks, thinking back to earlier discussions of the relative safety of
vehicles like we drive as opposed to the run-of-the-mill vehicles we
encounter on the highways, I thought the following might stir some
interest.

I found a University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
analysis of US government accident data for 1991-94 which notes that
when SUVs struck cars head-on there were FIVE DEATHS of car drivers for
EACH SUV DRIVER FATALITY.

It gets worse.  When CARS were struck from the SIDE by SUVs, there were
30 DEATHS OF CAR DRIVERS FOR EVERY DEATH OF A SUV DRIVER!

Last year, the networks all carried news stories of such statistics, but
came to the conclusion that the "SUVs" were "dangerous" vehicles.  Go
figure!  Basically, the liberal media, nutty governmental officials,
eco-nuts and the insurance moguls are blaming SUVs for the death and
injury differentials and demanding changes in the latter's design.
Great increases in insurance liability rates are coming for light
trucks, SUVs and our type of vehicles AND reduced rates for cars!

Once again, "social engineers" are going to cram stupid regulations down
our throats in their quest to INCREASE traffic accident deaths/injuries
in the name of the environment/fuel economy!

One such conglomeration of eco-nuts claimed that increasing CAFE
standards by 60% (45mpg for cars & 34mpg for light trucks) would "save"
the average family $490/year for gasoline.  Don't you think such savings
would be augmented by the REDUCED costs of food, clothing, shelter,
education, incidentals and education for those family members killed via
those requirements?

BOB - WA4RRN
'85GL - willing to mix it up with the tincans on the biways.