Another digression! How great . . .

You make a really good point here Tony, and I can say I’ve experience with both sides of this issue. My wife was driving a full size GMC truck when we first met (she was 19) and I can honestly say she didn’t know how to handle it. It was a big vehicle that was cumbersome to turn and slow to stop. She got in three accidents in it, and while one was completely not her fault, I think at least one of the other two had to do with handling such a large vehicle. So while she was “safer” in the large truck, it made the road a more dangerous place (boy I hope she never reads this!). On the other hand, I drive a mustang, which, while not a small vehicle, turns much more quickly and stops a lot easier. This has saved me in more than one occasion simply because I was able to react quickly enough to avoid the accident.

My wife now drives an Escape, which is a much smaller, nimbler SUV. It’s still an SUV though, and a lot “safer” in terms of getting hit. Somebody absolutely nailed her last month while she was sitting still at a yield sign; there was no way she could have avoided it. Yet the damage to her car (and person) was very minimal, while his was absolutely crushed. Part of that had to do with the way cars are built to crumple easily in front end collisions, but had she been in a car she would have certainly sustained more damage.

So I have two thoughts on the subject: SUVs and trucks can make the road more dangerous in general if people do not know how to drive them and that raises everyone’s danger. SUVs are safer (in general) for the driver than most cars (but not all, as Tony pointed out), and sometimes accidents simply can’t be avoided. I think a big key in all of this is to make sure that you are driving a car you are comfortable with and can handle appropriately (which I realize doesn’t address all of the issues associated with SUVs).