SUV's and related

[Apowell@ezlink.com]

I read with interst the fuming and rending of garments over SUV 
drivers.  And that's really what is the concen - not the vehicle so 
much as the driver.

**Stereotype warning** - the following commentary contains 
gratuitous stereotypes which are used only because they became 
stereotypes because they are so often true!!

Remembr back in the 60's and 70's, the cars you ALWAYS were 
careful around - and apssed automatically when they pulled onto 
the highway - were VW Microbuses and Cadillacs?  The VWs 
couldn't even go as fast as the speed limit, so passing them was 
automatic.  And the Cadillacs were generally diven by blue-hairs 
who (a) wouldn't dream of approaching closer than 10 mph to the 
speed limit, and (b) were paying no attention to traffic anyway, so 
you passed them automatically.

Unfortunately, at this time we had no way to identify others who 
were paying no tattention to traffic other than considering ANY 
station wagon to be highly suspect.  They were generally full of 
kids bouncing around and distracting he driver, or moms who drove 
only once a week and weren't that confortable with spending time 
on the road.

Now we have a new "early warning" system for drivers who are not 
paying any attention!!  They drive SUVs!!  This makes identifying 
the drivers who will put you at risk much easier, as SUVs are large 
and easy to spot.  

And as for the comments about the gent who finds people pull in 
front of his Suburban, I think the respnse was right.  Those of us 
who own SUV-like vehicles must accept that when we drive them, 
we will automatically be stereotyped by other drivers.

One advantage of my SUV-like 1993 Ford F-150 4x4 stretch cab 
(with canopy) ...just bought it...is that people may want to pass 
me, but they DON'T tailgate afte I flash my brake lights at them.  
They instinctively know if the driver of that big ol' truck in front of 
them hits his brakes, they will lose.  I often can't get people to stop 
tailgating my 280ZXT that way, as it's not big enough for them to 
regard it as a physical threat.  Trucks are great for backing off 
tailgaters.

Happy sunday....

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Al Powell
Apowell@EZlink.com
1958 Fiat 1200 Spyder "Transformabile"
1983 Datsun 280ZXT
1990 Audi 200
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