Figures paint SUVs as lethal

By STUART DYE transport reporter

Four-wheel-drive vehicles are turning into a "lethal killer" on New Zealand roads, new figures suggest.

The first major study of crashes involving sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, in collision with other cars makes bad reading.

In 341 crashes in three years, three SUV drivers were killed.

But 15 people who were in cars hit by SUVs lost their lives, according to Land Transport Safety Authority statistics.

There were 96 injuries to 4WD motorists, compared with 226 injuries to the people in cars. Of those, 15 SUV drivers and 44 car drivers were seriously hurt.

The statistics will unnerve SUV drivers and lend weight to anti-SUV campaigners' calls to get them off the roads.

Patrick Margan, road safety activist and one of the people behind New Zealand's "no more SUVs campaign", said the figures showed such vehicles were becoming lethal killers.

"The road toll this year has been going up and up and I wonder how much of this is down to the increase of these vehicles on our roads," said Mr Margan.

SUVs make up about 11 per cent of New Zealand's 2.2 million vehicle fleet and continue to grow rapidly in popularity.

"Where will it end - with everyone driving armoured tanks?" said Mr Margan.

"They are sold on their safety capabilities, but this is just bogus. Having these things on city roads is a completely inappropriate use of a killer vehicle."

The Weekend Herald has obtained the LTSA figures at the same time a US study is published showing that a pedestrian struck by a sports utility vehicle is twice as likely to die as someone hit by a saloon car travelling at the same speed.

Jack Haley, policy analyst at the Australian National Roads and Motorists' Association, said the figures were proving consistent worldwide.

"It's clear that SUVs are much more aggressive than other vehicles."

But this did not mean if everyone owned an SUV the roads would be safer.

"It's the laws of physics - everyone in bigger cars would create bigger messes," said Mr Haley.

"The conclusions are that everyone in medium-sized cars would be safest for all."

Tests have already shown that SUVs are more than twice as likely as cars to roll in a crash.

Another US study also shows they are not as safe as some would believe. Eight out of nine SUVs racked up big damages in low-speed collision test, said the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Chief operating officer Adrian Lund said the makers tried to create a rough-and-tough image, but the vehicles' bumpers proved flimsy.

Despite the mounting evidence, the popularity of "Remuera Tractors" shows no sign of slowing in New Zealand.

Motor Industry Association chief executive Perry Kerr said society was a democracy and SUVs should not be banned.

The issue was about making them safer and teaching motorists how to drive SUVs.

The numbers

* Crashes involving an SUV and a car 341

* SUV drivers killed 3

* Car drivers killed 15

* SUV drivers injured 96

* Car drivers injured 226

* SUVs on NZ roads 210,000