Death to the 4x4. Many in non-industrialised nations who are fortunate to be reading this web site (welcome) would be confused about western concepts of transport. Particularly our obsession for travelling around in transport that is completely inappropriate. In parts of the world with unpaved roads the way that produce gets to market or the Doctor comes to your village is in a toughened all terrain four-wheel-drive vehicle. There it is often a matter of survival.

 

Mainly in the north, in prosperous industrialised nations we think such vehicles are necessary for taking the kids to school or going shopping in. In America, every week, one beloved son or daughter is run over by their loving parents in their own driveways by an SUV. They consume more space, fuel and natural resources in their construction than small cars. They provide their drivers with a false sense of security although they are more dangerous to other road users, pedestrians and even the SUV drivers themselves. Sure, you may survive the crash, but no one else will. Unlike ‘normal cars’ the SUV driver is far more likely to roll over. In the cold war of cars the SUV is winning. It is evidence only of our ignorance, selfishness and stupidity. All the time the emissions from these vehicles are slowly strangling the third world countries where the use of such vehicles are REALLY necessary. Could you live with yourself?

 

The problem with all personal motor vehicle transport is that in any growing prosperous economy the growing affluence leads to more and more cars. So the roads are full to saturation. Literally our demand for cars grows to meet the capacity for road traffic. Likewise, our need for cars grows to meet the supply of space. Hence we fill our cars with junk. Because we can, not because we need it.