Are 4x4s Safer to Drive Than Smaller Cars?

Recent studies have found that 4x4s are not as safe as you may think because motorcyclists are more likely to crash into a 4x4 than any other vehicle. As 4x4s have larger engines, they are more capable of reaching top speeds in no time, so drivers tend not to be aware of how fast they are actually going and intimidate the driver in front of them. If a 4x4 was involved in a car crash, the driver and the passengers of the other vehicle would sustain life threatening or critical injuries. Smaller cars are most likely to be hit by a 4x4 as the driver cannot sometimes see a smaller car when reversing. Drivers of 4x4 vehicles are also more prone to talk on a mobile phone whilst driving and refuse to wear a seatbelt. Modern 4x4s have many distracting features which can make the driver not pay attention to where he's going such as when turning up the air con, looking at the sat nav and changing the DVD channel for the kids.

All cars have their pros and cons and this is true when purchasing 4x4s as well. If you really need a larger family car that is also powerful, then this is the car for you. If your intentions are different and you need it for status, then you are more likely to be reckless as 4x4s are very powerful so the likelihood of being in an accident is very high. Another misconception is that when there is heavy snow or ice, a 4x4 will not encounter problems that a smaller car would have but this is wrong. All cars need friction between the road surface and the tyres so by having a larger vehicle with bigger wheels and a bigger engine doesn’t make a difference. To actually benefit from driving in snow in a 4x4, you should use snow chains to allow the tyres to get friction from the road.

There are groups which are petitioning against 4x4s and are trying to get road tax and congestion charge higher for those who choose to drive gas guzzlers. Most people do not agree that 4x4s are practical and watching a parent trying to squeeze inside the school gates in a huge tank is completely hilarious. Not only are they a hazard to other drivers on the road but also to pedestrians and the rest of the world. 4x4s contribute largely to pollution and the effects of the ozone layer which many people are trying so hard to preserve. The opinion of many are that there are greener and safer ways to drive so if you have the option to leave the 4x4 at home, then please do so. A large majority of people would agree that it is more of a status symbol than being an actual necessity.