In reply to:


Umm.. 'Give up'.. so all SUV owners should have their vehicles turned into scrap metal and purchase new cars?



Long term yes.

Short term, no.

Things you can do as a current SUV owner are:

1. Don't buy another SUV to replace the one you've got - keep the one you've got and make sure its kept well tuned and maintained and when it needs replacing consider buying a vehicle (yes, even, if you must, another SUV) provided thats it more fuel efficient and documented as less polluting than the one you've got.
If you need a second.third vehicle, don't get a second SUV, get a car or minivan or whatever suits its roll as the second/third car and use it in place of the SUV more often.

2. Contact GM or whomever made your SUV and tell them you won't buy another SUV until its made at as fuel efficient as most cars and proven to be no less safe than a car - and don't just take the dealers word for it, check out the rollover figures on the NHRTA rollover tests and actual track safety test results for yourself.

3. Lobby your congressman to ensure that he/she helps modify current laws to ensure that SUVs are made to comply with similar fuel efficiency laws and pollution emission laws as most cars are. And if they won't help do this, then vote for another candidate next election who will and make sure your congressmen knows this and why you're voting that way.

4. Be considerate when driving your SUV and remember it handles a lot different from the average car, and this includes "cutting some slack" for the car drivers who don't know how different to control or stop your SUV is compared to their car as they pull in front of you. Also remember that most vehicles can't see past or through you.

5. Remember that the kicking the SUV habbit is just one (but a good) way to help cut pollution long term - consider/research and implement ways of doing more than that to really help reduce long term pollution you cause by all your activities. Yes, maybe using less electricity, using the car (whatever type) less or even (shock horror) using public transport or more efficient methods - like car pooling, to travel to/from work if possible and practical in your line of work.
Yeah and maybe buy a Rio Pearl so that you can take your music with you when travelling in other modes of transport :-))