SUV : Sadly Under-utilised Vehicle

Local councils are unwittingly encouraging the use of 4x4s by installing more and more speed-bumps. I am sympathetic to traffic calming, but accelerating between each speed-bump doesn't calm anything, it just increases fuel consumption and blood-pressure. I urge all resident's associations and Home Zone campaigners to advocate the replacement of speed-bumps with 'pinch spots' thereby dissuading wide vehicles like 4x4s. If you believe in e-petitions, you can join one against road-humps here.

If you're part of the 70-85% of the British public who support measures to deter the use of urban 4x4s then you can do something about it here.

"4x4s to be Priced off the Road"
Read the Telegraph.co.uk article and reader's heated comments here

Of course, large 4x4s are often essential in rural areas. But the fact remains that their un-aerodynamic shape, heavy structure and fat, nobbly tyres make them unavoidably thirsty on fuel. Having said this, their large wheelbase makes them good candidates for fuel cell power and zero emissions at the point of use... i.e. in a desert or on a farm.

Of course, you could argue that campaigners for better air-quality actually started the urban 4x4 craze in the first place. Car companies got around California's strict emissions-standards through a loophole in the legislation. Certain utility vehicles were exempt and thus, the SUV (or Seductive Utility Vehicle) was born!