Why do people make false generalizations about SUV drivers?

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.

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!!!<<

we hate you cause you pollute the environment, cause global warming and SUV's kill people driving small cars I hate you cause your arrogant and you think your better than everybody just because you can afford an SUV, and your a gun owning, selfish rich republican. When Hillary is President she will either outlaw SUV's or tax them outta existence I hate you!

I thinks its because SUVS are just physically bigger and visible and are in sufficiently good repair to be actually able to accelerate. People who drive beat up old jalopies that blow smoke out the tailpipe while they light up a cigarette and talk on a cell phone are the worst people I see on the road. They don't care what happens to their car or anyone else's.

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.

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.

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.

I live in Texas..and they give anybody a license..and God forbid that it rains...all hell would break loose on the road

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.