4x4 Vehicles - Should they be banned from Town/City Centres

chriz1000

I haven’t been able to read through all 19 pages of this, I read the first few pages and think I’ve got the idea.
In truth, most 4x4 cars only run in All wheel drive if there struggling with the terrain or road surface. My Audi TT is 4 wheel drive, if I drive with cruise control on around town I can get an average of 40MPG that’s as good if not better than most front wheel drive cars.
Just because a car is 4 wheel drive doesn’t mean its going to be a monster of a car, or be driven like an idiot. Generally it means that the car is going to look after you no matter what difficulties you get into.
In a town centre with icy/wet roads, would you prefer a car than can get traction from all wheels if necessary to say avoid going into the pavement, or a 2 wheel drive car that loses it.

suki1964

I live in a rural area - I can see seven farms from my garden to give an idea how rural and yep most of the farmers here have 4x4's.

But they are a considerete lot, they leave them on the farms when they come to town much preferring to use their tractors

lisyloo

I agree with the recent focus of this discussion that the focus on 4x4s is wrong.

I am a 4x4 owner and driver.
I have put myself thorugh several police training courses and I implement advanced driving techniques.
I believe I am a great deal safer than a lot of other drivers out on the roads.

The focus on 4x4s is ridiculous.

The vast majority of accidents ARE avoidable (that's what the polcie say).
If you are always driving with a margin of contingency then you are less likely to be in an accident in the first place.

For example if I drive past children I ANTICIPATE that they might step out on front of the car. I adjust my speed, position and gear accordingly and concentrate on the hazard.
This gives me a much higher chance of avoiding them if they do step out in front of me and if I did hit them then my speed would be less likely to fatally injur them anyway.

Let's stop blaming certain types of vehicles shall we !!

jordylass

I'm not getting into the 4x4 thing, but I used to work for a forensics that had some ditty on the wall about accidents being avoidable. When you think about it properly, it is true. Accidents are caused by a variety of things and can all be avoided, but you can't control how careful someone else is or how much sleep they have etc, and accidents will carry on happening, but accidents don't cause themselves and someone is always at fault when an accident happens.

lisyloo

but you can't control how careful someone else is or how much sleep they have etc

No you can't but MOST accidents are still avoidable because you can still anticipate the possible hazard and adjust your speed, posistion etc. accordingly.
You can identify potential hazards and focus attention on them.

For example if you see a young child who is clearly trying to get across a busy road then you need to slow down to a safe speed so that you are in a much better posistion to stop.

I am not saying that 100% of accidents can be avoided but I believe that the majority could if everyone drove in such a way that they used anticipation and left some contingency.

If you drive up someones backside then there is likely to be a collision if they have to stop suddenly.
If you leave plenty of space then you have some lee-way if something goes wrong.

Most mostorists could get some training for the price of 2 tanks full of petrol.
Organisations like the ROSPA and IAM offer this at reasonable prices (and it can save you money on your insurance anyway).

bexnchris

I think that 4x4's should be banned from everywhere not just towns & cities. Gas guzzling vulger, dangerous things should be taxed to within an inch of thier uneconomic lives! Unless the owner can prove a valid use for them such as farmers etc. Just a thought!! :mad: :mad:

110frankie

...so, your views on trucks, vans, people carriers, two seater sports cars, luxury saloons, three piece suites in a house where someone lives alone ?

lisyloo

dangerous things

Can you provide some facts - you know - data, links, evidence etc.
Otherwise it's just your opinion.

Unless the owner can prove a valid use for them such as farmers etc.

So it's OK for farmers to drive dangerous things is it?
If these are dangerous as you say (for which you have provided no evidence) then we shouldn't let farmers have them.
It's either dangerous to society or it's not - make your mind up !!

I think you need to back it up with some facts otherwise your opinions don't have any credibility.

chriz1000

Not wanting to flame any one individual, but maybe some people need to read the facts about AWD vehicles before posting such strong negative comments. Like I said in a post above, most AWD vehicles these days are normal front wheel drive cars until the terrain or road conditions become unsafe or unstable for the car to drive safely. How this obvious safety feature can be a negative in some people’s books, I really don’t understand.

mdean

The fact is that 4X4 cars in towns are driven by selfish scumbag ignorant idiots who want to impress by conspiculouse wealth - while bring up their brats as selfishly as the parents- too bone idle to walk to school - too important to sit at the normal height

They can all go and rot