Sports utility vehicles and older pedestrians: Solution must consider psychology of SUV use

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7522.967-c

BMJ 2005;331:967 (22 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7522.967-c

Letter

Sports utility vehicles and older pedestrians

Solution must consider psychology of SUV use

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Simms and O'Neill warn of increasing death andinjury from sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and conclude thatconsumers should be warned of potential risk to pedestriansthrough notices on these vehicles.¹ This solution fails to considerthe psychology of SUV drivers, most of whom do not need fourwheel drive off-road capability. There are few hill farms inChelsea. Ownership of such a vehicle represents the conspicuousdisplay of wealth and a deliberate attempt to look down on,both physically and metaphorically, poorer, less important peoplesuch as public transport users and pedestrians.

In the United States to drive an SUV is seen as a fundamentalfreedom like the other lethal freedom, gun ownership. Some havetried to curb use by invoking other belief systems: WWJD "Whatwould Jesus drive?" The authors cite the success of antitobaccocampaigns, but there is a difference: smoking mostly damagesthe smoker . . . [Full text of this article]

David R J Jarrett, consultant geriatrician

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO8 OAW DavidDr.Jarrett@porthosp.nhs.uk