h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's no distinction here - everyone behind the wheel, whether male or female, is a f*****g maniac, and a danger to everyone else on (and sometimes off) the road.

The male stereotype is a 20-something in a collar and tie, driving a pickup truck almost as big as a 7.5 ton lorry. Sounds incongruous, but trucks are excempt from a lot of expensive emission controls and other tests, so many people you wouldn't expect to own one, do. The female stereotype is the soccer mum (they say mom here). She will be wearing either an expensive hairdo and dress suit to match, or workout gear straight from the gym, but in both instances she'll be driving an SUV so big that it has its own zip code, and driving it with a mobile phone glued to her ear.

None of these people gives a flying f**k about the well-being and safety of anyone else around them, because the vehicle they drive is big enough to protect them in all but the most severe collisions. Being so high up, they Look down upon most other drivers... in more ways than one.

True, often people with larger cars cause hastle as as they think they are indestructable, also why do americans have such large cars especially when smaller cars would be more conveinent for every day use?

The power of advertising. Detroit wants to sell BIG stuff, so they make it look appealing on TV ads - zero percent financing, country and western music, sexy pitchpeople ... Gasoline at under $1 per gallon helps, too. I read somewhere that the average comprehension level of most Americans is around the 6th grade, so working out the pros and cons of purchases is not a factor.

Bah. As an automotive enthusiasts living in the States, I am disgusted by the trash vehicals America produces. Especially SUVs. Male, female, it doesn't matter. When behind the wheel of one of those f*****g trucks, no one is a good driver. I consider owning an SUV to be the sign of a feeble mind, ignorant of all matters automotive. I have yet to be proved wrong.

My family has an SUV--a 1986 Isuzu Trooper II. This was an SUV before some dumb marketing guy came up with the term SUV. It's not the safest thing in the world, my dad drives it carefully, and it actually goes off-road. An SUV is a good vehicle if you use it properly and not just as a status symbol.

American moms drive SUVs because they overschedule their children with extra-curricular activities. Once you have more than one child, conflicting schedules are inevitable. You can't be at the basketball court and the dancing school at the same time. Therefore, you must car pool with other parents in order to get your kids where they have to be. So now you need a vehicle that can carry 3 or more kids with all the necessary gear for that sport or activity.

This is neither an endorsement not a criticism. It may very well be a cry for help, though.

How does that serve as justification, when station wagons exist that are much safer, more fuel efficent, and faster, and also hold more than 5 people?

It's not a justification, it's a rationalisation. SUVs are way cooler than station wagons and minivans. I know people who wouldn't be caught dead in either of those because it wouldn't be . It's really more of a fashion statement. It's all about style and status.

True SUV's look cooler, but there are many more sensible cars with smaller engines, that go faster, look better, handle better, store as many people, have more fuel economy, safer...... and better for the environment. If you want an off-roader buy a land rover and drive it off the road! (personally I think thats where all SUVs belong)