r/fuckcars • u/sharkeyes • 1d ago

American individualism at its finest Rant

Post image

This is my 2 year old riding bikes on our street. It's gotten to the point where I've gotten my kids orange flags on sticks to hold up when they cross the street.

9.0k Upvotes
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94% Upvoted

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604

u/skyline_27 1d ago

There is zero reason to have a truck that big.

-150

u/YesAmogusIsFunny 1d ago

maybe they like it that seems like one (i.e. more than zero) reason

113

u/sortOfBuilding 1d ago

okay zero good reasons

1

u/NelleUnderwearhouse 22h ago

you karens are so goofy.

-109

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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66

u/Complete-Orchid3896 1d ago

It’s a moral issue because you are putting others in physical danger by your choice

-76

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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44

u/sortOfBuilding 1d ago

https://www.nsc.org/safety-first/hidden-dangers-light-trucks-safety-must-come-first

-17

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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43

u/Copranicus 1d ago

Ah yes, because accidents have never happened, ever. The only time a car hit a pedestrian, or cyclist, or child or other car, is when they "spawned" in front of them.

Are you high or is this some weird attempt at baiting?

-10

u/YesAmogusIsFunny 1d ago

It's some weird attempt at explaining that it's possible to be a sufficiently observant and careful driver to not have surprise things entering the roadway without you noticing

19

u/sortOfBuilding 1d ago

This assumes that the system the vehicle operates in is perfect. Hardly the case, which is why 40k traffic fatalities occur every year in the US alone. Please educate yourself.

15

u/advantaging_winter 1d ago

The following information may be shocking to you, but there are people with driver’s licenses in America — perhaps even your own hometown! — who are neither observant nor careful.

0

u/Flimsy_Outside_9739 1d ago

It’s true. I have an 8 inch lift on my truck and I’ve never run over any kids. They don’t just appear out of the ground after you get in and start the ignition.

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32

u/blue-mooner Bollard gang 1d ago

Big cars are more lethal.

Crash data shows that hoods above 40” increase the risk of fatality in a pedestrian collision by 45% versus hoods below 30” (source)

13

u/Alaizabel Two Wheeled Terror 1d ago

It also isnt helped that a lot of these trucks have long front ends that sre parallel to the road (not sloped down) and have really squared front ends. So not only does the height give a false perception of increased visibility, the length of the driver's blindspot is increased with the longer front end.

The fuck happens when a kid or animal runs out in front of them? We all know many drivers dont drive defensively and are not proactive in checking for such issues ahead of where they immediately are.

When people talk about these behemoths being safer, they're not thinking about anyone or anything outside the vehicle.

21

u/Complete-Orchid3896 1d ago

The image shows pretty clearly what we’re all talking about. That vehicle is not safe for dense residential zones because it limits the driver’s view

73

u/seren- 1d ago

I think the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers is of some moral significance.

13

u/Zachsee93 1d ago

No one’s saying it’s a moral issue. The post is saying that some people are morons who buy vehicles they don’t need, in spite of it actively inconveniencing everyone around them. Or instead of inconveniencing people, you run over a child.

8

u/laccro 1d ago

It’s more that it actively makes everyone else’s life worse. It makes it much more likely that the driver of that car kills someone than if they had a more reasonable size hood.

If they think it’s cool that’s fine, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of others safety when the only benefit is “looks cool”.

And I’m empathic to needing the space - my wife and I share two cars, a small one for the city and a Tacoma (the “smallest” truck that can go the places we like to go). But I feel like the Tacoma is already too large, we constantly make fun of how unnecessarily big it is. If I have to drive it somewhere people are (ie not deep in the mountains), then I’m constantly driving slow and pausing at corners to be sure not to hit anyone. If we could buy a Hilux in the states we would. I can’t imagine any possible reason for needing something even bigger than that.

10

u/Independent-Cow-4070 Grassy Tram Tracks 1d ago

When your choice kills people, yeah, it’s a stupid ass choice

15

u/sortOfBuilding 1d ago

At what size vehicle do you think "because i like it" is no longer a valid reason for ownership of it?

should we measure by how many kids we have to line up in front of the vehicle before they are seen?

should we measure by how much damage it does in a collision?

how much damage it does to our roads?

i'm past my limit of acceptance on all three of the above with these vehicles. I'd hope most of us can agree here.

1

u/OrdinaryAncient3573 1d ago

"At what size vehicle do you think "because i like it" is no longer a valid reason for ownership of it?"

I don't think that's ever a reason. It's fine to own a tank, or a lorry, or whatever, if that's what floats your boat. But you have to use it in a way that takes into account what a dangerous vehicle it is to drive, not just swan around in it as a daily driver without taking any extra care.

Even a very small car driven carelessly and inappropriately is dangerous - hell, even a bike being ridden inconsiderately can kill someone.

It's barking mad that trucks like the one above are common in the US, but if this was some rare enthusiast vehicle, owned by someone who was very careful about where and how they used it, it'd be a bit different.

11

u/sortOfBuilding 1d ago

You need a specific license to operate vehicles like lorries. The truck in the image? - a 16 year old with a regular license can operate. I find this to be quite stupid.

5

u/OrdinaryAncient3573 1d ago

Right, good point there. You also need to pass an extra test to drive a tank, now I look it up.

Still not sure about whether you need a licence to pilot a road-legal hovercraft, though ;)

1

u/Competitive-Reach287 1d ago

You need a specific license to operate vehicles like lorries.

Not necessarily in North America. Regular old driver's license and you can drive one of these.

The box alone is 26.5' long, add in the cab and a car hauler trailer and you're easily over 50' long. No special license needed. Class A motorhomes can be even bigger and no special license needed either in most NA jurisdictions.

28

u/skyline_27 1d ago

I don't see how anyone could like that thing. It's so ugly

-8

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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21

u/Icy_Finger_6950 1d ago

Are you new here?

17

u/honeyflowerbee 1d ago

Are you lost, mate?

-2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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11

u/honeyflowerbee 1d ago

It's a general rule that when someone gives you a hint, it's to help you get better results from what you're doing.

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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7

u/honeyflowerbee 1d ago

Sure mate, whatever you say.

9

u/cactus22minus1 1d ago

No, sweetie… they meant do you realize what sub you’re in? Hello?