Why do people drive unnecessarily large cars?

I did a Truth Social search for that, and I was arrested and imprisoned in Guatemala.

If SUVs really are the 'big bad wolf', surely insurance premiums are sky high for them.

Or are they?

A driver who drives in a reckless manner, will definitely amplify the risk they pose if they're doing it an SUV, that much I will concede. A driver who does not drive an irresponsible manner by definition is not a threat.

But my point is that in previous discussions, anti-motorist activist claimed that it was impossible for an inanimate object (in that case, a road with bad layouts or unfit for the type or volume of traffic) to be dangerous. Now, some of the people who might agree with that sentiment are now claiming that another inanimate object, i.e. a vehicle, does present inherent danger.

If one accepts that an inanimate object can be inherently dangerous, then I could entertain the idea of SUVs being "dangerous" if we could agree that environmentalists and NIMBYs who oppose motorway projects have blood on their hands, considering that the construction of motorways in Ireland is one of the factors leading to the collapse of road fatalities in this country.

I thusly have two simple questions:

1. Is it possible for an inanimate object to be inherently dangerous?
2. If yes, to what objects does this apply, in the context of road safety?

Its not a valid question. In fact its a completely redundant debate.

This is a SUV.

This is also a SUV

This is a saloon car

This is also a saloon car

The only thing thats matters is any particular car's overall NCAP safety rating for vulnerable road users. And in that regard, the highest scoring are:

The second largest Mercedes Saloon, the E-Class

The D Segment Skoda Superb / VW Passat large estate twins

And the 2.3 ton, 17 ft long, 7 seater, Mazda CX-80

So, lets have a proper conversation please, about the overall level of risk, including passive safety and driver assist functionality. And not just SUV Bad, Saloons and Hatchbacks Good, because its nonsensical.

Just wonder how the Government will make up the shortfall in revenue once there's a large percentage of the motoring fleet as EV's, so they would lose all the moneys gained from Diesel & Petrol cars, will there be a new weight based system…

My parents got a larger car simply because it's easier for them to get in and out of as its higer from the ground. One of them has a terminal illness.

Mazda has a decent sized bulge in the dashboard on the drivers side. I'm guessing the NCAP used a left hand drive car and the dashboard bulge had some effect.

As it currently stands the taxes from petrol and diesel fuels are going towards SEAI grants, the grants are already reducing so as long as they continue to reduce the taxes from ICE fuels can also reduce

With regards to annual motor tax and VRT they'll need to start bumping them all up if they want to keep them cost neutral else you're going to have people paying 300-500 to paying €120 on annual motor tax

Don't forget the savings from the EU carbon fines, healthcare as there's less toxic fumes etc etc

Government could raise property tax (and even bring back water charges! Lol) instead of using VRT as a proxy wealth tax.

High cost of fuel and second hand cars punishes people on lower incomes and those who can't work from home or afford to live near their place of work.

Don't be giving anyone ideas now!

These cars or SUVs are perfectly legal and in some cases not even that big. Completely unacceptable in a modern democracy to want to ban them.

What next? As I stated tongue in cheek previously I am actually disgusted by the blight of McMansions in this country. Perfectly legal so long as the councils planning department allow them. That must be respected.

And don't mention the people who want to drive big motorbikes when a Honda 50 will do the job.

Sean, drivers will make mistakes everyone knows that. Crashes will inevitably happen no matter how safe we think we can be.

When these mistakes happen the size of the vehicle will be a factor. Just because there is very few crashes out of x drivers doesn't mean we should stop improving safety.

Poxy paywall. What's it about below the free portion?

The start does include stats that pedestrians and children are 44% and 82% more likely to be killed in a collision by an SUV versus a car.