They're at it again!

Heard some buffoon this morning say on the radio that 4x4 drivers need to be aware what is going on around them!! And that we will never completely get rid of the 4x4 and we will have to accommodate these larger vehicles!! I say they are the same length, same width just higher and more box shaped. I heard one guy on Sydney radio say the other day that 4x4s should be off the road because they are too slow getting of the mark on green traffic lights. It may just save lives with some drivers running red lights, it may avert getting t- boned.
It just makes you wonder what goes on inside their tiny little minds!! Michael

Agreed Footloose

and it gets worse - Push for mandatory cameras in 4WDs

Still, if you were to survey a group on a subject about which they knew nothing, then you'd expect crap wouldn't you.

Statistics, damn lies, AAMI...........

Totally agree footloose. I wonder why the survey did not include tracks, motor bikes, scooters, bicycles and for that matter cars. Take them off the road and our 4X4s won't be a problem to anybody - except ourselves LOL.
Cheers
Fred

What exactly is a 4WD these days? Does that Include AWDs. As far as rear view vision is concerned what about trucks many of whome only have rear view vision through their side mirrors. Most of the critism comes from people who can't afford a 4WD (AWD)

I commented on their web page, and my comments (same as this post) were censored. They didn't mention fish and chip wrapper(I wonder why?)
They sent me an email saying "you've been published! yadda yadda " ...yawn..
My computer thought their email so cute that it immediately dumped their notification in my spam folder.
Poetic justice ?

I am not sure that cameras are the complete solution to the unfortunate accidents that occur by people getting injured with reversing vehicles.

Lately there have been posts about the difficulty of viewing what's behind because of rain or water on the camera.
So, are they the answer if you can't rely on what you see?

I think the cheapest and most reliable safety device for guarding against these types of accidents is a loud audible alarm when you go into reverse.

Think of all the earthmoving machinery and forklifts etc. that have these alarms.
Do they have many of these types of accidents?

Doesn't look like it or maybe there isn't the sensationalism attached to the newspaper reports.

It would also be interesting to know how many of the people who were surveyed have actually got a 4WD or driven one.

Have you tried reversing one of the new Commodores?
No wonder the cars are coming out with reversing sensors now.
Do the sensors work if there is a child just behind the car?

If they do, that maybe a better substitute for a camera.
They don't need a space on the dash for a screen either.

Dave

Lucky I'm not with AAMI ha ha ha ha

Cheers Kev

I also see that their poll is not going their way either
It shows 100% support for all drivers to driver 4wd's LOL

Cheers Kev

Have left my thoughts on there page... http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/03/06/8485_gold-coast-top-story.html Regards Steve M

Having read the thing I have to wonder why AAMI,the insurer of my 4WD, would want to bother with paying for that survey. I might ask the call centre in a couple of months when the insurance is up.

And as for the so called "media". TV,newspapers and so on, aren't they the ones who are always claiming their readership and viewers are on the up and up. The truth is they are in decline.
JimDi

Once again, it is so easy and mindless to put labels on a group and hound them. The rear vision thing is a fascinating example where 4WDs tend to be lumped together in the 'very dangerous' category.

I am not against legislating for reversing cameras in certain vehicles, but do it on the basis of the vehicle's characteristics, not just because it is a 4WD. Here are some surprising results from the NRMA's Rear Visibility Study:

Top scoring vehicles

Vehicle Class Stars
BMW X5 (5 Door Wagon) - with camera 4WD 5
Ford Territory (5 Door Wagon) - with camera 4WD 5
Honda Legend (Sedan) - with camera Luxury 5
Lexus GS430 (Sedan) - with sensors and camera Luxury 5
Lexus IS250 (Sedan) - with camera Luxury 5
Lexus LS460 (Sedan) - with camera Luxury 5
Toyota Kluger (5 Door Wagon) - with camera 4WD 5

Vehicles that scored zero stars

Vehicle Class Stars
Holden Commodore (Sedan) Large 0
Holden Epica (Sedan) Medium 0
Holden Viva (5 Door Hatch) Small - Medium 0
Honda Civic (Sedan) Small - Medium 0
Honda Odyssey (5 Door Wagon) 4WD 0
Hummer H3 (5 Door Wagon) 4WD 0
Hyundai i30 (5 Door Hatch) Small - Medium 0
Mitsubishi 380 (Sedan) Large 0
Mitsubishi Lancer (Sedan) Small - Medium 0
Toyota Prado (5 Door Wagon) 4WD 0
Toyota Corolla (Sedan) Small - Medium 0
Toyota RAV - 4 (5 Door Wagon) 4WD 0

Sure, the top vehicles all had reversing cameras and sure, there are 4WDs in the bottom of the pile. I wonder how loud Commodore or Lancer drivers who responded to the survey will howl when they are told that they have to fit a reversing camera because their vehicle is rated amongst the most dangerous for rear vision?

And don't even start on fuel consumption. As has been discussed on here before, it is the driving patterns more than the vehicle itself which consume fuel. Bring on the carbon trading scheme I say. And then watch the non-4WD, sanctimonious crowd howl out loud when they find that driving their car EVERYWHERE uses way more fuel than the recreational 4WDer.

Matt.

I believe most 4x4 owners are concerned about vehicle and pedestrian safety, and maybe we should start our own survey that could be submitted to AAMI or the Pedestrain Council for thier consideration.
Suggestion for Topic:
Should the Directors of AAMI and Harold Scruby participate in testing of rear vision on all vehicles, by laying down behind a wide range of vehicles, and monitoring how long it is between dropping out of the drivers vision, and the pressure of the vehicle ruptures thier spleens.
I vote yes.

One of the comments left ................
Generally 4WD drivers fall into two categories, Arrogant and Aggressive. I really don't care what their fuel consumption is or how much they are to insure because I am one of these 75% who think they should NOT be allowed on city streets NO WAY. Get out in the bush and stay out there. Paul Keating had it right when he said that if he was still in power he would tax them out of existence. Big, Aggressive and Arrogant has NO place on city streets. How many times have you been out in the bush anyway? I am sure it would not warrant ANYONE to drive these ugly box things with their massive bull-bars that are there just to scare pedestrians as there aren't too many bulls walking around the streets. GET RID OF THEM!!

Posted by: Billy Johnstone of Cairns 3:31pm today


My reply to him, doubt it will get posted on there ................

Mr Billy Johnstone of Cairns, you need to pull your head in. ""Arrogant and Aggressive"" Firstly might I say there are not too many bulls roaming streets or jumping across major highways. Most bullbars are for old skippy that jumps out in front without looking bit like some car drivers who obviously got there licence from a corn flakes packet probably like your self by your arrogance. Not everyone uses them for off road but for towing big loads like horse floats,boats etc that would be illegal behind most family sedans. Might I also say that you are probably one of these pedestrians that dont look and probably cross the road 20 metres from a road crossing and think you can just walk out in front and expect the world to stop for you. 75% of people like yourself probably need educating on how to take a roundabout properly. Vision, yes they have plenty of it above the sedans that's to see clowns like you who don't look over there shoulder before changing lanes, shall I continue !!! YAWN YAWN YAWN Get a life.......... Might I add driving 24 years 2 speeding fines no accidents and take my Prado off road. Steve (Glenmore Park)

Hi all

Does anyone entertain the thought that these type of stories are the product of the over fertile imaginations of journalists bored to tears that no one has murdered, bashed or committed some other newsworthy horrendous crime against their fellow man in the past 24 hours. Is it possible that the angry reactions to these stories are just what they are after. Would we bother to buy a newspaper that had as its front page headline the sucessful rescue of young Tommy Smiths cat from a tree?

I shall now don helmet and bullet proof vest and retire to my Acme home bomb shelter;-)))))

Cheers Pop

Footy,

Stop stirring the children. You know they'll have all sorts of problems sleeping now. You're getting to be a serial pest hahahahahahaha