4x4's Don't Belong On Highways!?

[Grumpy]

LET US HOPE NONE OF OUR INSURANCE COMPANIES SEE THIS!!!

4WDs 'don't belong on streets'
26th August 2009

4WD or view results MOST passenger car drivers think four-wheel drives don't belong on city streets and consider them a danger to other road users, a survey has found.

They also want four-wheel drive owners to be hit with higher registration fees and feel intimidated when driving close to an off-road vehicle.

The survey, by insurer AAMI, found 77 per cent of passenger car drivers think 4x4s shouldn't be allowed in cities while 75 per cent considered them safer for the occupants but a danger to other road users.

Sixty-six per cent also backed higher registration fees for the larger vehicles.

AAMI corporate affairs manager Mike Sopinski said on every measure the survey showed stark contrasts between passenger car and four-wheel-drive owners about road entitlements and obligations.

"It is of concern that road users hold such strong views about their fellow motorists and this may spill over into driving behaviour," he said.

"We therefore urge drivers of all vehicle types to come to a better understanding of their common rights and obligations.

"Clearly all drivers share the objective to make road travel safer, so we encourage them to share the road in an understanding and responsible manner.

Ironically AAMI's research also revealed that four-wheel-drive owners made fewer insurance claims than their passenger car colleagues.

The company's figures revealed a claim rate of 16.3 for every 100 four-wheel-drive owners and a rate of 17.82 among passenger car owners.

The AAMI survey quizzed 2,503 people across Australia.

[Beep Beep]

Some people have nothing better to do but mess with other people.

[TJDave]

Yeah, get rid of all those pesky Subarus! I guess the Wife's 4wd Lexus probably scares alot of folks too.

[iaccocca]

No, your wife's Lexus and my wife's Tribeca are all-wheel-drive; very non-threatening. An AWD is like a woman's gay friend where as your Jeep is like...

[TJDave]

Oh, So four wheel drive is ok if it is full time and there is a mountain bike on the top. I get it!

[Lud]

Lets see how those people start thinking in a few months when snows on the road.

[Lurch]

That study was done in austrailia. I would like to see one done here and see what the results are.

[Grumpy]

My point was to NOT let our insurance companies see it and start getting ideas. The idiots come up with enough crap without any outside interference...