Is it Time for Suv Restrictions – No
Sport Utility Vehicles; or SUV's for short, have been around for quite some time. Their popularity really took off sometime back in the 1990's. Gas was plentiful and it became a sort of status symbol to own one. Even the luxury carmakers who previously never gave thought to producing such a utilitarian vehicle jumped onto the bandwagon. All of a sudden, we had Lincoln, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, and a slew of other brands that now had SUV offerings within their lineup. And why not? It became cool to be seen driving them and they were very profitable to their respective manufacturers' bottom lines. In fact, many people became so mesmerized by these vehicles that they have since vowed to never drive a "regular car" again. Fair enough. Different people have different tastes.
Gas prices in this day and age are quite volatile. Literally overnight, we have become accustomed to seeing as much as a 20 -cent increase in the price of a gallon. On occasion, we also see drops in fuel prices. Well, unless we're talking about the hybrids, most SUV's are quite thirsty at the pump.In addition, they pollute the atmosphere at a greater rate than their automotive cousins, and this doesn't set too well with those who are convinced that our planet is warming up . Either way you look at it, some say it's time to implement restrictions on these gas-guzzling behemoths. Well, just what kind of restrictions are we talking about here? Are we suggesting that SUV's should be banned, or are we simply implying that they should be more fuel-efficient?
As Americans, we are supposed to live in the Land of the Free and therefore pursue what we perceive as happiness in any way we see fit, provided the activity falls within legal boundaries. For nearly two decades, tobacco smokers have unfairly been denied these liberties, but that's another story. Let's concentrate on SUV owners.
If someone enjoys driving these vehicles and can afford the expense of doing so, then he or she should retain that personal right. This shouldn't matter if gas is $4.00 a gallon or $10.00, or whether the SUV gets 22 mpg or 12. Owners of these vehicles still have a right to travel our roads. There is nothing wrong with requiring these vehicles to be more fuel-efficient, provided it can be done in a feasible manner. If; for example, technology is developed that would enable a GMC Yukon to attain 35 mpg without taking 45 seconds to reach a speed of 60 mph, then we should applaud such engineering. Less fuel consumption equates to saving both money and damaging our air less. But the bottom line is as follows:
In the long run, the market would determine whether or not such regulations would prove to be successful. If a vehicle is made that nobody wants, it will simply fade into obsolescence. It is therefore prudent to think before you regulate.
