Suvs: Are They Making The World Unsafe ?

SUVs: Are They Making The World Unsafe ?

More than half the people of the of the United States own a sport utility vehicle (SUV). (AAMA). Unfortunately, there are more than 2,000 people that die every three years due to poorly designed SUVs. And that is only one of the damages posed by these vehicles. I believe SUVs should be banned because they are significantly increasing air pollution that adds to global warming, it raises gas prices and as indicated earlier, they are dangerous and cause needless deaths. One reason we must stop the sale of SUVs is because they are major air pollutants. SUVs contribute to air pollution more than a car or truck because federal law gives heavy SUVs permission to emit higher levels of toxic and noxious pollution- carbon monoxide , hydrocarbons , and nitrogen oxides. SUVs can spew 30% more carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and 75% more nitrogen oxides than passengers cars (AAMA 84). This law is wrong. SUVs should not get special permission to pollute the air. Why not 18 wheelers that have to haul big loads, or trucks that are used every day ? SUVS contribute to the effects of global warming because they burn harmful pollutants. According to the EPA, “Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientist expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5 F (0.6-2.5 C) in the next fifty years , and 2.2-10 F (1.4 - 5.8 C) in the next century, with significant regional variation . Evaporation will increase as the climate warms, which will increase average global precipitation. Soil moisture is likely to decline in many regions, and intense rainstorms are likely to become more frequent. Sea level is likely two feet along most of the US coast” (EPA). All SUVs contribute about half as much air pollution as a refinery emits in one year. Clearly, the EPA warns that if we do not work to prevent of global warming now and reduce the emissions, then the process of global warming will increase very rapidly. Another reason SUVs should be banned is because they are huge consumers of gasoline that reduces the supply, thereby increasing prices at the pump. SUVs should be banned because they increase prices at the pump and reduce the supply of gasoline. According to the Department of Energy “ Suvs are contributing to our dependence on imported oil. The more gasoline we use , the more oil we have to import from other countries. Currently more than half of the oil we use is imported. This level of dependence on imports is the highest in our history , and will only increase unless we do a better job with conservation and alternate fuels” (DOE). If Suvs were banned then the hassle of imported oil from countries would be reduced, and gas prices may be lower. “The impacts of SUVs on oil consumption and price savings is enormous, indeed data shows that the role of Suvs is astounding, and the assumption that eliminating Suvs will reduce oil consumption, there by reducing oil prices , is true.” ( The CATE Institute). If SUVs are eliminated then oil prices and consumption would fall. If Suvs were eliminated then oil dependency from foreign countries would not be necessary anymore. Finally, SUVs should be banned is Suvs can be deadly. Many models rollover easily in accidents (AAMA). which is why they should be banned..“ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports two characteristics of SUVs and other light trucks that have the potential to increase fatalities: rollover propensity and crash compatibility (2). SUVs have a higher center of gravity that makes them rollover quickly, and crash very fast because they are heavy and so large that many people do not survive crashes with Suvs. According to NHTSA Suv rollover in 40% of fatal crashes , while only 15% in passenger cars. A test