Should Hummers be Outlawed – No
Though there is much debate about whether this vehicle, or another one if fit for highway use, the fact is that if the government deems a vehicle road worthy, then consumers can drive it on same. If the government excludes one vehicle, then why stop there. We can use the argument that because Hummers are big and militaristic looking (and some don't like them) they shouldn't be seen on the road. Although there are much larger trucks, many hate SUVs because of their perceived size and dislike the drivers because of envy. However, drivers of cars, such as myself, have a valid concern for their safety. Cars have gotten smaller over the past forty years while light trucks are one and a half times larger than they were from that same time.
Because of this fact, some would like to see Hummers sidelined, or maybe relegated to the trail. Both would be impractical as it would take a larger truck to tow the Hummer. From an empathetic standpoint, such a law would do nothing to, or be fair for the person making payments on his or her truck.
Considering the argument of banning certain vehicles from the road, why not ban Smart cars because they are too small. Why not ban Corvettes, Vipers, or other sporty cars because they are too fast or too fast looking? Better yet, there should be only one type of vehicle on the road. Just the average, mid-sized four door sedan. The issue is that no one would be able to pull a large trailer, take more than a couple of people (as the weight limits on cars are ridiculously low), or be able to more more than a few items safely. This counters the very purpose of wanting to ban large vehicles on the argument of fuel efficiency. Smaller cars have to make more trips to move the same amount of things an SUV can carry in one. They will also use more fuel doing it.
In fact, I drive the aforementioned four-door sedan and it suits my needs, pulls my camper, and carries my family around. However, If there was ever the need to buy a larger vehicle, this should be my choice and not some government agency's . No matter what we drive, we are charged with driving responsibly. This means obeying speed laws, not driving aggressively, or beyond the handling or braking capabilities of your car or truck. In short, not tailgating and observing good driving manners. We can ban certain vehicles all we want, but until we fix the root of the problem, that is, poor driving, we will continue to blame the machine instead placing the responsiblity squarely on the shoulders of the driver.
