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How Do You Ride? What Everyone Needs to Know about SUV Safety
(ARA) - America is sport utility vehicle crazy. SUVs now account for one in
four vehicles on U.S. roads, and their rising popularity is accompanied by
alarming increases in rollover incidences and related fatalities. And, male
drivers between the ages of 17 and 27 are almost two and a half times more
likely to die in an SUV accident than the national average.
These and other sobering facts caught the attention of the 50 states, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. As a result, the 53
jurisdictions have joined forces to launch the ESUVEE Safety Campaign. This $27
million, yearlong national education program consists of a variety of strategic
events and initiatives designed to reduce SUV rollover incidences, particularly
among younger male drivers who are most vulnerable to such incidences.
The ESUVEE Safety Campaign highlights four critical tips for driving SUVs that
can mean the difference between life and death:
* Handling: SUVs possess a higher center of gravity than passenger cars, which
contributes to a great risk of rollover. Incidences of rollover can be
exacerbated by speeding, abrupt maneuvers, inattentiveness, tailgating,
recklessness, aggressiveness or impaired driving.
* Loading: The center of gravity of an SUV is affected by the number of people
carried, as well as the amount, weight and distribution of cargo. Overloading
the vehicle or the overhead cargo rack raises the center of gravity, increasing
the risk of rollover.
* Tires: Tire size, pressure and maintenance are keys to SUV safety. Drivers
should monitor each of these elements, and take them into account when loading
and driving an SUV.
* Seat belts: Perhaps the most preventable cause of death in the event of an SUV
rollover is ejection from the vehicle. Eighty percent of deaths in SUV rollovers
occur because occupants are unbelted.
The SUV Safety Campaign is anchored by its mascot, ESUVEE, a 16-foot long,
10-foot wide and 12-foot tall beast that serves as a focal point of the
Campaign. ESUVEE is also the star of the Campaign's Web site, www.ESUVEE.com, a
source of tips and information about safe operation and maintenance of SUVs.
Throughout the year, the Web site will also provide information on upcoming
events where ESUVEE can be seen, such as SUV Safety Days in individual states.
"Driving SUVs like ordinary cars invites disaster. Awareness of SUV safety
- especially stopping rollovers - can mean survival to countless
Americans," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
"Smart drivers can save lives with some simple steps: avoid speeding,
sudden maneuvers, and overloading. Our education campaign targets young men, who
may be most vulnerable and most difficult to reach. If you think this message is
hype, look at the numbers - thousands of young Americans killed in rollover
crashes every year."
"SUVs can give you a sense of invincibility, but if you lose control they
become very dangerous due to their weight and high center of gravity," said
David Champion, senior director, Auto Test Department, Consumer Reports.
"To reduce SUV rollover risk, choose one that has not tipped in National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests, has performed well in Consumer
Reports tests, and is equipped with electronic stability control."
The ESUVEE Safety Campaign's initiatives promoting the safe use of SUVs are
framed by the question "How Do You Ride?" The question is meant to
provoke SUV drivers and passengers to consider how to make themselves safer in
an SUV. For more information, visit www.ESUVEE.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content