Attitude not Altitude

What the would-be-protectors-of-the-public-good fail to recognize is that the vast majority of people have to be responsible for our own actions. Few want, or need, to be totally protected from every hazard in life.

Suzuki’s Samurai (Sierra) was withdrawn from the US market many years ago, after it received a good deal of criticism. Apparently the vehicle’s ability to ‘turn turtle’ when driven in a reckless manner had some of the official (and not so official) watchdog organizations on the warpath.

It was (almost) like the Jeep CJ5 episode all over again. In the CJ’s case, a 60 Minutes television crew ‘proved’ that the Jeep was unstable, by driving it quickly through a slalom course. The vehicle overturned; sales plummeted and American Motors eventually withdrew the popular model from production.

To this day, debate still rages as to the fairness of the 60 Minutes test. The Jeep was radio-controlled, and many believe that no human driver could have managed to turn the steering from lock to lock so quickly.

I have driven dozens of Suzukis and CJ5 Jeeps over the years and have never felt threatened by their handling ability or stability on any type of surface; because I (and most other 4-wheelers) drive with some knowledge of the vehicle’s limitations and capabilities. A Porsche is designed to go around corners at great speed; a Suzuki Samurai (Sierra) is not.

It can hardly be the responsibility of the manufacturer if someone gets hurt by exceeding the vehicle’s limits.

You wouldn’t expect the manufacturer of Porsche cars to accept the blame if one of their customers tore their vehicle’s underbelly to shreds while trying to drive along a rough trail.

There is absolutely no argument about the claim that high-centered vehicles, such as large 4WDs, buses, passenger vans and trucks will roll over more easily than regular passenger sedans and sports cars. They will. And they do. But what would happen if everything that has the ‘potential’ to cause harm was removed from society? So many things and activities would be forbidden that the world would become a much poorer and sadder place.

If 4WDs were forced off the market, because people need to be protected from their own irresponsible actions, where would it all end? Motorcycles, speedboats, skate boards, bicycles, footballs, baseball bats, fun parks, slippery dips, parachutes, rock-climbing gear, light aircraft, hot water, bananas and hundreds of other things would all have to be banned to ensure that the foolish remain unharmed. And that is just the ‘things’. Activities, such as walking, running, playing any contact sport, surfing, fishing, eating fatty food, drinking alcohol, lifting heavy weights, listening to loud music, watching too much television, and even working in a stressful job all have the potential to cause harm to ourselves and/or others.

What the would-be-protectors-of-the-public-good fail to recognize is that the vast majority of people have to be responsible for our own actions. Few want, or need, to be totally protected from every hazard in life. And what needs to be pointed out to the ‘regulators’ is the immense amount of enjoyment 4WD vehicles add to the lifestyle of millions of families around the world.

Here are a few tips to help enhance and (hopefully) maintain your 4WD outdoor lifestyle.

1. Drive within the vehicle’s limits. Most 4WDs have a higher centre of gravity than regular passenger cars, so they (generally) will not steer, handle or stop in a similar manner.

2. If your 4WD has a roof rack, do not load heavy objects on it. Restrict the items to light stuff, such as sleeping bags, tent and clothing. With their roof racks laden with spare wheels, extra fuel and cargo, safari vehicles can be visually impressive, but they need to be driven with extreme care.

3. Always wear seat belts. Recent statistics on SUV roll-overs in the USA revealed that nearly 60 percent of the occupants killed were not wearing their seat belts. This is crazy! Even if you are just going a short distance, it is idiotic not to fasten your seat belt. Even a sudden stop from 10mph can be enough to kill, or seriously injure, an unrestrained driver or passenger.

4. Ensure that the tires are in good condition and at the pressure required for the weight carried. Check them regularly. Under-inflated tires will run hotter, due to the extra flexing, and are extremely dangerous. A blowout can result in loss of control, major damage, injury and/or death.

5. Make it a habit to be courteous to other motorists and road users. Much of the anti-4WD hysteria today results from pedestrians, bike riders and car drivers feeling intimidated by the physical size of 4WDs; just as people in 4WDs can feel intimidated by large buses and trucks. When you have an opportunity to be courteous - use it. Even if you (legally) have the right of way. The seconds it might add to your journey won’t make any difference, but I bet it will make you will feel a whole lot better. Just imagine how the image of 4WDs would be improved, if every 4-wheeler was to adopt this policy.