Why do people make false generalizations about SUV drivers?

Question

There was a question about letting a parallel parked SUV pull out into traffic and most of the answers were like "I would not let him in I hate SUV drivers", "SUV drivers think they own the road", or "I hate the SUV mentality." Maybe if these people drove a delivery truck around the Dallas Ft Worth Metroplex everyday like I do they would find out that bad drivers are in lots of different vehicles, not just SUVs. I've been cut off by an SUV, but i've also been cut off by a car as well. I've been tailgated while going the speed limit by an SUV, but its also been a car or a pickup doing it as well. I've seen lots of cars that think they own the road too.

BTW I drive a small car and I have no problem with an SUV in front of me because I don't tailgate. Because of this, I could see around a Hummer.

Maybe this is just a Texas thing. Are there any parts of the country where SUV drivers are really bad but the car drivers are really good?

Answer 1

Where I live, in Hilton Head Island SC, all drivers are bad no matter what they are driving.

Answer 2

I have an SUV. But then again I have had it since before the term SUV was coined.
At the time my insurance agent took a look at it and proclaimed it as a 4 wheel drive station wagon. A dozen years ago minivans had such an alarming safety rating that a lot of that consumer (soccer moms, light duty contractors. Etc) started buying SUVs. What a lot of them brought along with them was the idea that the SUV was safer. So for many it gives them a false sense of invincibility.
But you are right – they would be bad drivers no matter what they are in.
I have also had an Austin Healy. Small cars often race and zip in and out of traffic without signaling. It doesn’t mean that they are all bad drivers. However, when a lot of folks see one coming up from behind they will purposely position themselves next to another vehicle to block them in.
There is a tendency to generalize. Many people look at SUV’s as gas guzzlers without looking at the per seat cost of transporting a large group and cargo.
Of course we would all like everyone else to stay off the roads that we want to travel on.

Answer 3

I know what your saying about peoples disrespect to drivers who drive a BIG truck,,,being a delivery truck or a 18 wheeler.They don't seem to realize that you drivers cant stop on a dime with all the weight you carry,,Some drivers are idiots who feel the road belongs to them and the laws doesn't apply to them,,,AS far as the SUV drivers ( being a ex-driver of one myself ) they also think they own the roads,,they can most likely see above all the ''LITTLE CARS"" therefor feeling like king of the road..WHEN I was a SUV driver I didn't worry so much about switching lanes without notice I wasn't afraid of cutting the little cars of because if I fucke* up I wasn't going to be decapitated unless of course I was going against A bigger badder truck,,its just a feeling we have as being Superior,,as far as this being a Texas thing??? I live in Michigan and the people here drive like idiots especially when it starts snowing again (we forget about the wet slick roads for awhile because we only have a few dry months ) And most of the accidents I see at this time has a SUV involved,,again thinking even snow cant slow us down!!! WELL I've said my peace,,y'all give me all the thumbs down you want.....>> peace & happy holidays!!!<<

Answer 4

It doesn't have anything to do with car drivers being better drivers, it's that people who drive SUVs generally fit a similar mentality. Most of these people are driving a car that is too large for their driving style, are incapable of commanding a car that large, are completely oblivious to other drivers on the road, and because of their size and a general sense of entitlement because of it, are dangerous. Not everyone's like that of course, but SUVs are the new "it" thing for soccer moms who do not know how to drive a large vehicle properly. They either do stupid things, or are agressive dangerous people on the road.

It's not so much an unwarranted sterotype as it is partially true. They're not better or worse, they're just more dangerous.

Think about it this way, a kid flying a toy plane isn't that dangerous, even if it does happen to hit you in the face; put em in a cessna however, and there's big trouble.

Southern california here.

Answer 5

Not all SUVs are gas guzzlers, many even get the same or better mileage than minivans or trucks. Some people live in rural areas or have larger families and need them, but this is a good step for people who, say, live alone in the suburbs and drive a Hummer ten miles to work every day.

Answer 6

I'm with you. It doesn't matter what kind of car people are driving--there are good (and bad) drivers in SUVs and bad (and good) drivers is small cars.

Yes, I would let an SUV into traffic from being parallel parked.

And yes, I'm from Texas.

Answer 7

I drove a huge SUV before but now I drive a small Honda. I could see more in SUV than in my current Honda. But Small cars are easier to drive and save gas. So, I am OK with Both but some jerks who drive SUVs are really bullies.

Answer 8

people are just going with a sterotype. I've seen bad drivers in all types of cars. I drive a minivan and people always assume that im a soccer mom that's going to go slow but they soon realize that i treat the minivan like any car and am willing to race them in the minivan (i haven't lost a jump off the line yet by the way, except for that one against a Lambo).

It's just a sterotype though. I've seen people in the big vans who can't drive and think they own the road. I live in Illinois by the way.

Answer 9

People that don't like SUVs mostly do so as an environmental thing. Why burn all that gas if you live in the city?

I live in rural Minnesota. We have a foot of snow on the ground, 4 wheel drive is needed to get around.

Answer 10

That's true but a heavy SUV's on a parkway can take you out,
but commerical vehicles are not allowed on parkways.
It's the "Excursions' and 'heavy pickups' with private licenses
that itch me.