SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/20/suv-risks-warnings-road-safety-buyers-uk-study

by lambdaone • 1 month ago

19 10 1 month ago

lambdaone• 1 month ago

This is a fascinating study that shows the massive disconnect between our moral choices and our actual hehavior, showing how many people are willing to accept the risk of killing children in exchange for a car that makes them feel good, even if they have been explicitly informed of that risk.

volkl48• 1 month ago

I would expect most would cite a thought process more akin to "I'm a safe driver, have never hit a pedestrian or cyclist before, and don't expect to in the future, either." for why they aren't swayed by this warning.

I expect very few went "I don't care about killing people with my car", for their reasoning.

Now, people are a terrible judge of their own talents at driving, and so many of those people are much less safe drivers than they think. But the point here is that most of those people believe they specifically are not at risk of causing that terrible outcome. It's faulty risk assessment rather than total lack of caring about others.

potatosalad99• 1 month ago

lol, check the comment above yours. It’s exactly the line of reasoning they cite.

cityofdelusion• 1 month ago

To be fair, the vast, vast majority of drivers will go their entire lives without hitting a pedestrian, let alone at speeds that are fatal. Where I live, pedestrians deaths seem to always be from drunk drivers, the very young or very old, and people walking across 20 lanes of interstate at night for some reason.

watwut• 1 month ago

It does not necessary shows disconnect. Moral choices and behavior of those people are aligned they just have different values then you assume.

olcarl75• 1 month ago

yes we need more regulations Mr. Government. Why not use technology to advance robotics and self-driving when we can have more fines and scrutiny around the constituents.

fennecbutt• 1 month ago

SUVs are crap. Load of bullshit imo. And the people who defend em get soooo salty, my dudes your urban soccer wagon can't actually fucken ford a river so what's the point.

antonymoose• 1 month ago

I drive a Honda Pilot. I can haul my kids and their friends to soccer practice. I can fold down the seats and haul 2x4x8’ or 10’ sticks of PVC for a weekend project. I can tow my boat to the ramp or pull a trailer if I need more material than fits in the cargo bay.

It’s really an ideal vehicle.

musicale2• 1 month ago

It’s really an ideal vehicle.

If you are inside it, yes.

musicale2• 1 month ago

The SUV child/cyclist/pedestrian invisibility problem can possibly be mitigated somewhat with technology, but the height and mass problem cannot.

It's an arms race as well. It's unpleasant and less safe to drive a "low" (formerly "regular height") vehicle in a sea of SUVs blocking visibility, blinding you with headlights from multiple directions, etc.

SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians

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