BAD Reads
One More Reason Not To Drive An SUV
I've said it before and I'm saying it again. I HATE SUVS. Most people need them like a fish needs a bicycle. But as long as they are popular, shouldn't they be safe?
Which brings us to someone who clearly should be named Humanitarian of the Year: Ron DeFore.
He's a spokesperson for "SUV Owners of America", an organization partially funded by car companies.
He is quoted on a piece on CNN.com about "SUV backover"--the fact that 2,400 kids a year are injured (and about 100 of these are killed) when they are run over by SUV drivers (usually a relative)who back up and don't see them standing there.
The reason is a blind spot on SUVs. The solution are radar based sensors that warn the driver if anything (or anyone) is behind them. And the cost? Several hundred dollars at most.
DeFore's take on this:
"If we take the attitude that any new technology, down the road, should just be mandated because it saved a few lives," he sad, "that is very dangerous public policy because you just start pricing vehicles well beyond what a lot of people can afford."
Right, Ronnie boy. As long as one of those 2,400 kids hurt isn't related to you, what's the big deal about them getting hurt of dying? I mean as long as the car companies keep making a big fat profit, why bother to do something that's morally right? I mean, we might be interfering with free trade. How un-American of me for thinking such a thing!
If you've got an SUV, read this piece and look into this. The child you save may be your own.
The car companies are surely NOT going to do it for you unless the government requires them to do so.
And with the current regime in place, THAT'S got about as much chance of happening as W's winning the Nobel Peace Prize.............
