With the tragic loss two children's lives in Sydney today isn't it time to ask some tough questions about 4wds?

Does the average driver have the skills to drive a four wheel drive?

I am on the roads most days and 4wdrivers are simply bad drivers!... Sorry if that offends but that may only offend because you are one of them.

These vehicles are more like a truck than a car and here are some of the things I notice.

1. Many 4wders have bull bars fitted which make the vehicle twice as dangerous to both anyone they may collide with and the people in the 4wd itself! These bars defeat the concept of crumple zones and make the vehicles far more lethal!

2. Most 4wders have trouble staying in their lane due to the wider vehicles.

3. Many drivers of 4wds drive way too fast even though their vehicles stopping distance is much longer than a traditional sedan.

4. Many people who drive 4wds are older people with diminished driving skills - Are they too old to be in control of such a vehicle? Many haven't sat driving tests for 30 plus years so probably aren't aware of the modern road rules.

5. Many tradies who drive 4wds drive way too quickly and too erratically to ever be allowed to drive one in my book. You often see them driving dangerously on freeways.

6. 4wds diminish the ability of other vehicles to see and be seen due to their extra height and width thereby endangering the smaller vehicles.

7. The weight of 4wds mean that in a collision much of the force from the 4 wheel drive is shunted into the other smaller vehicle.

8. It is more likely for a 4wd driver to try to cross a flooded stream despite the fact that their extra sized tyres and higher profile means they shouldn't try to cross either.

Here, whilst you stew in your juices over what is a reasonable set of statements and questions read this.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/4wd-users-much-more-dangerous/2006/07/09/1152383614616.html

It's time these problems were addressed.

It doesn't matter. It's not going to happen, just like your thoughts on dual citizen politicians paying back money earned or awarded. I think 4WDs should be banned altogether, but that's not going to happen either.

Forgot. You really are a totalitarian, albeit an impotent one.

Most of that rant Opinionated2, is a pile of garbage.

1/ Experience in the bush totally disproves the rubbish about crumple zones being safer or an advantage. This is just greenie bulldust, experience proves otherwise.

2/ I have never noticed any difference in lane discipline with 4WDs, but have with small hatch drivers.

3/ Out here we find 4WD drivers are the slowest, particularly tradies, more mobile chicane than speedsters.

4/ Again garbage. More are young mothers, which may be the problem.

5/ See 3 above.

6/ Yep a real pain, just like vans, people movers, & those small hatches with ridiculously high rear bodywork.

7/ Weight comes with size, not number of driven wheels.

8/ nothing to do with type of vehicle, but perhaps to do with place of abode.

Many people are stuck with 4WDs because of towing requirements & laws.

Your reference was the usual garbage expected in that rag, produced by academic twits.

I suggest you go try to get a life, & stop fretting that other people don’t want to be like you.

Dear OP2,

Thank You for this discussion. For many years there have
been complaints about 4WDs. They are designed for rural
areas and should be banned in cities. Until major disasters
continue to happen the authorities will not do anything about
these vehicles. I invite all objectors to not only post on
this forum but to complain to your MPs and local councils.

What you've written is spot on and something should have been
done years ago. Would we accept military vehicles driving on
our streets? And in Melbourne, they are called "Toorak tractors"
it's supposedly a "prestigious" thing to drive.

I'm not sure of the history of these vehicles but I recall
that they were initially designed as military vehicles and later
for use by farmers. I believe the originators were "range-rovers"
in the UK.

Condolences to all.

Including to that poor woman, the driver, whose human error, a moment of inattention, has changed many lives forever, including her own.

Hoping for a speedy return to health for all affected.