message sent !
Printable View
message sent !
How safe is your car? Vehicle safety ratings & car crash data
This website makes some interesting reading. If you do a search on late model 4WD's, passenger vans and large cars, there seem to be alot of 4wds with 4 & 5 star ratings, in direct comparison to the other vehicles. I know alot of them are not 'hard core' 4wds, but then again, neither are the 4wds that frequent the school runs.
Found the actual petition in the QLD government website.
Queensland Parliament E-Petitions - Tabled Paper Petition
-------------------------------------------------------------
TABLED PAPER PETITION
Subject: Vehicle registration, four-wheel drives
Eligibility: Queensland Residents
Sponsoring Member: Fiona Simpson MP
Principal Petitioner: Barry Craft
C/- 139 Duringan Street
CURRUMBIN QLD 4223
Num of Signatures: 19728
Tabled: 06/10/2009
Referred to Minister No
Responded To: No
Information about the Principal Petitioner is available through the sponsoring Member of Parliaments office.
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of QueenslandThe petition of the citizens and residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House their concerns at the negative environmental impacts and effects of the excessive amount of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the use of four-wheel drive vehicles. A four-wheel drive vehicle uses almost double the amount of fuel, emits 17 times the amount of air pollution and three times the greenhouse gases of a two-wheel drive vehicle. They pose a health risk to residents in city areas as well as making an unacceptable negative impact on the environment in a world facing the threat of climate change and severe oil shortages. These vehicles are also a physical danger to pedestrians and smaller vehicles in the event of collision.
Your petitioners therefore request that the House undertakes:
• charges incorporated into vehicle registration based on a pollution rating and the weight of the vehicles (essential uses and farm vehicles could be exempt)
• banning of four-wheel drive vehicles from school pick up zones and intercity/shopping areas.
--------------------------------------------------
Interestingly my Defender 90 regularly returns 9litres/100km and will hopefully last 20 to 30 years.(If not longer). Compare that with a Ford Falcon. Mmmmmm
12 to 14 litres/100km and lucky to last 15 years.
I actually support dot point one as this would see most diesels decrease in registration. Not sure what an intercity shopping area is - must be a QLD thing.
_____________________________________________
A bit of googling finds Mr Barry Craft .
Here he is writing for Gecko - http://www.gecko.org.au/files/newsle...100_reNews.pdf
Interestingly enough GECKO is the Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council and has the same address listed on the petition.
Here is their website Gecko - Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council | Welcome
Here is their facebook page Gecko - Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council | Facebook
Thanks, Sleepy, for this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleepy
The quote you highlighted was of interest to me:
'A four-wheel drive vehicle uses almost double the amount of fuel, emits 17 times the amount of air pollution and three times the greenhouse gases of a two-wheel drive vehicle.'
The is a straight out, bare faced lie. And that is easy to demonstrate. When you compare fairly you have to compare apples with apples. This statement compares two wheel drives with four wheel drives. Lets do that - a two wheel drive Ford Territory with a four wheel drive Ford Territory. That would have to be as fair a comparison as there could be. So, does a four wheel drive Ford Territory:
- Use almost double the amount of fuel
- Emit 17 times the amount of air pollution
- Emit three times the amount of greenhouse gases
as the two wheel drive Ford Territory? The answer is quite obvious.
It is also quite easy to demonstrate that a four wheel drive uses less fuel than a two wheel drive, simply by comparing a Suzuki Jimny with a Holden Statesman. Such a comparison is, of course, meaningless - about as meaningless as the statement they have made.
It seems to me that these people will stop at nothing to further their hatred of four wheel drives. All statements from them should be regarded as suspect for this reason. They cannot be relied on to be honest, as is demonstrated by this petition and this statement.
Willem
and all the while the 4wd fraternity is now chasing this tail instead of chasing the pollies over their sale of assets etc etc etc
divide and conquer...
nice bit of PR manship ;)
What the hell is an "intercity/shopping area"??? Is that one that lies between two cities? What a dolt!
I have received a response from Fiona Simpson.
If I may paraphase;
It would appear that the media may have sensationalised these events. Everyone has a right to put together a petition and seek representation to have it tabled in parliament. It does not mean the MP tabling the petition supports the views of the constituents asking to be represented.
Regards
W
I got much the same in a reply... at least she or someone from her office replied.
To be fair 4x4's on average do have a bigger environmental foot print. Most traditional 4x4's have large 6's and 8's and use heaps of fuel. LR's have had efficient 4x4's in diesel for 20 odd years and so have not fit this category for quite a while with some models.
The other issue now is 4x4s have been diluted and do you class subarus, awds, small 4x4's like freelanders and xtrails, and the volvo x90 has a very good safety rating not only for the occupants but it was one of the first cars to take into account hitting another small car, so basicly you safer in a small car being hit in a volvo 4x4 than a commodore.
This issue is not simple anymore and the line is not clear, they could possibly ban 4x4's over a certain weight which use a certain amount of fuel and dont meet certain safety standards.
I feel like adding an infant head hight bar on the front of my non 4WD cars. :mad:
:wasntme: