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There is a major debate in this country over the costs and benefits of
sport utility vehicles. SUV owners want room, safety and power and an ego
boost that comes from driving the biggest car on the road, while the
anti-SUV crowd claims these vehicles are unsafe for other drivers, the
environment and the driver and passengers in SUV.
Rather than arguing about the value of these popular vehicles, we need
to focus on building better ones. The Union of Concerned Scientists has
developed a blueprint for an SUV that, for a minimal price increase, could
save thousands of lives from rollover and crash-related accidents, get 30%
better gas mileage, and not sacrifice an inch of room or an ounce of power.
In this era of divisions between the United States and the Middle East, we
need to gain energy independence so that we ourselves can be independent.
SUV drivers deserve better choices. Just like seat belts and air bags
were, these improvements are already feasible and long overdue. It’s time
Detroit and Washington made the safety of our families and our environment a
priority and I urge all patriotic and conscientious Americans to contact the
media and their legislators as well as automobile companies to help get
these changes put into effect.
