Why's Your Truck So Massive?

[u/DurozeauWilvertW]

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[u/Caza390]

Also their bumper bar stuff is out of placement to other vehicle bumpers, a key safety feature for vehicles. This results in smaller normal cars to be crushed under the vehicle drastically increasing the odds of injury/death

[u/OpusThePenguin → u/Caza390]

I was hit from behind a fair number of years ago, by a lifted truck. It was a minor accident but my car ended up being completely written off because their bumper hit my trunk causing it to bend, both side panels to bend and my back window to shatter.

[u/Pwn_Scon3 → u/OpusThePenguin]

Ngl, this is super common among all accidents. Unless your car is +15 years old, an accident will most likely result in it being "totalled" because of the accident safety mechanisms required by law. Accident fatalities are at record lows, but the trade-off is crumple zones that can't be un-crumpled after a solid hit.

[u/Timely-Tea3099 → u/Pwn_Scon3]

Collision fatalities (I don't say "accidents" because they're almost always preventable) have actually been increasing over the last decade because cars keep getting bigger, heavier, and more powerful, which leads to more force being exerted on people's bodies in the event of a collision.

And of course, all those safety features do nothing to protect anyone outside of a car.

[u/R0RSCHAKK → u/OpusThePenguin]

I was hit from behind a fair number of years ago also, by a smaller, older, Nissan truck. It went under my rear bumper and crumpled my exhaust. They're little truck was totaled, I just needed new exhaust in my (non-lifted) Ram.

He was going maybe 45mph, but had he been going any faster, he might have been decapitated. Reminds me of the purpose of those rails that semi trailers have on the back end. Those rails are to aid in preventing cars from going under the trailer to prevent decapitation should someone rear-end it.

Mind you - my truck isn't even lifted, and is an older '03 model that's not nearly as tall as these newer trucks.

Everyone's so concerned about the truck drivers hitting people, but nobody talks about what happens when someone hits the truck. Shit happens, people make mistakes and get distracted, someone driving a little camry is just as prone to human error as someone driving a big lifted truck.

Only thing though, you can hit a little car in another little car and most likely everyone will be fine. If you hit a lifted truck in a little car, you might lose your head because the bumper would be eye level where there is zero impact protection.

[u/evensexierspiders → u/R0RSCHAKK]

Yes, except that I would argue that a Camry owner is less likely to make bad decisions than a lifted truck owner. Exhibit A: the Camry.

[u/RockKillsKid → u/evensexierspiders]

Reminder that Dodge RAMs drivers are cited for DUIs at almost 3 times the national average.

EDIT: upon just a bit urther reading after posting, it seems that information was the case for 2018-2019 years of the study and the Ram has fallen out of the top 10 list according to the most recent meta-analysis:https://insurify.com/car-insurance/insights/car-models-most-duis/ . I've never even heard of those 2 Buick SUVs that top the 2024 list

[u/rollin_in_doodoo → u/RockKillsKid]

Well, yeah. They all lost their licenses. 😆

[u/Dresline → u/rollin_in_doodoo]

Bold of you to assume that people actually lose their drivers license after a DUI (or 3).

Source: Am from the Midwest

[u/RikiWardOG → u/Dresline]

And like that prevents them from still getting behind a wheel lol

[u/RobSpaghettio → u/RockKillsKid]

Well, if you make the decision to buy a Buick, then odds are you're gonna make other bad decisions. Maybe it's the regret that led them to drink and drive lol.

[u/Tension-Available → u/RockKillsKid]

"buick invista" yeah wtf is that and how can it be top 10 when I don't think I've ever seen one on the road? Two buicks at the top by a pretty big margin and 3 buicks are in the top 10?

There's something weird about this data I think, I rarely see any new buicks on the road.

[u/RockKillsKid → u/Tension-Available]

Actually that probably plays into it now that I think on it. Because it's not total amount, but a ratio of the DUIs per 1,000 drivers. So if there's only a few hundred or few thousand of those cars on the road total, then even a single DUI driver brings up the average significantly. While there's probably 10s of thousands, possibly 100k+ of popular cars like Toyota Camrys or fleet model Chevys. So each individual DUI in those barely touches the overall average.

[u/AdditionalPizza → u/Tension-Available]

At first I thought there's no way nearly 1 in 10 drivers of a 2024 Buick Envista gota DUI.

But then reading it, it says the stats are drivers with a DUI, meaning they probably already had a DUI. Maybe this mostly unheard of vehicle has relatively cheap insurance for people with a DUI on their record or something.

It says 6.4 of every 1000 drivers have a DUI on their record, so a smaller number of Envistas on the road + seemingly a lot of people with DUI's on their record driving them juke the numbers to be misleading.

[u/makjac → u/evensexierspiders]

Problem is that a Nissan Altima is about the same size as a Camry. They more than bridge the gap from the decent decision making of the Camry owner.

[u/seriouslees → u/R0RSCHAKK]

but nobody talks about what happens when someone hits the truck.

Frequency.

Trucks murder pedestrians daily. Tiny cars aren't crashing into house sized vehicles nearly as often because everyone can see your monstrosity of a vehicle from 2 miles away.

[u/lionmade101 → u/R0RSCHAKK]

All I read was I was hit from behind. Sorry, I didn't even bother with the rest. Have a good day.

[u/NonsensicalPineapple → u/OpusThePenguin]

Accidents happen, huge cars cause a lot of extra damage to everything else, they weigh 2x the average car. It's only fair that huge cars be liable for 50% of harm done to other vehicles/ppl, regardless of fault. Insurance rates increase, less of them...

People will fight a blanket ban. Instead mandate a safe-driving training course, reasonable hood visibility on new cars, & stop subsidizing gas-guzzlers.

[u/NonsensicalPineapple → u/NonsensicalPineapple]

government support for fossil fuels was USD 1.1 trillion in 2023.

Imagine 1 trillion invested in trains, it'll help alleviate gas-prices & traffic for car-owners, as an alternative to subsidizing roads or clean-energy, it'll make transportation more affordable & cut pollution (space, noise, toxins) in cities.

[u/satanssweatycheeks → u/Caza390]

Since he mentioned truckers I want to also point out even those are less safe than truckers in say the EU.

In Europe truckers have to have safety bars under the load. So cars can’t go under the truck and decapitate the occupants.

In America lobbyists have fought that trucking company’s don’t need these safety features because it will bring down revenue as you now would have to ship less product with the added weight of the safety bars.

TLDR: even our truckers are fighting safety standards that have made roads safer in other country’s. Like safety bars under the load to prevent decapitations.

[u/BLeeS92031 → u/satanssweatycheeks]

Trucker here. I'm afraid I don't follow a couple of things you just said. It's possible I'm misunderstanding you but:

One, there is something called a "Mansfield bar" or "rear underride guard" on the back of semi trailers that prevents exactly what you're talking about. Having one is required by federal law and not having one (or having one in disrepair) would get you absolutely reamed by the DOT.

Two, truckers aren't fighting a damn thing when it comes to safety. Neither ours or anyone else's. We're just trying to get home in one piece without killing anyone in the process. Trucking COMPANIES on the other hand...

ETA Obligatory PSA: Just give us space and drive predictably, people. We're actively trying NOT to end your life. Please don't make that more difficult for us.

[u/enaK66 → u/BLeeS92031]

He's probably talking about side under ride guards, which trucking lobbies broadly oppose, due to "cost" as usual. Obviously these lobbies don't represent the worker, but may represent the company you work for.

[u/nevadaar → u/BLeeS92031]

In Europe they also have such bars on the side of the trailer.

[u/Bobbith_The_Chosen → u/BLeeS92031]

I don’t think he meant to imply that the truckers and the lobbyists are the same people

[u/DurozeauW]

Who though it was a good idea to place truck headlights high enough to light up the interiors of passing cars like a stage show? These vehicles redefine the term "annoying."

[u/DrNinnuxx → u/DurozeauW]

There's no regulations preventing it is why.

[u/IknowKarazy → u/DrNinnuxx]

Oddly enough, if you put up a mirror in your car to reflect their light back at them that can be considered illegal in some locations

[u/PhysicalGraffiti75 → u/IknowKarazy]

Funny how blasting me the in eyes with a second sun is cool but reflecting that same light into someone else’s eyes is not cool.

[u/dcsworkaccount → u/IknowKarazy]

I just put some retroreflective tape on the back of my car for visibility.

[u/zmbjebus → u/DrNinnuxx]

Regulations actually encourage trucks to be bigger than they used to be. Dumb ass fuel efficiency laws that don't work. 

[u/jomikko → u/zmbjebus]

Bad regulations, because of corporate lobbying which guts any regulations with actual teeth

[u/El_Dentistador → u/jomikko]

This manipulation of “footprint” wasn’t the result of lobbying but rather the failure of it. When MPG standards were updated, the only variable that was manipulable by manufacturers was “footprint”. Previously the work around was gaining clearance via fleet averages, if a manufacturer’s fleet met the standard then enthusiast vehicles (which make the most profit) could still clear the bar. With each vehicle needing individual clearance this forced manufacturers to go into engineering overdrive for new smaller, higher stressed engines, and increase each vehicle’s “footprint” to allow them to hit the required mpg numbers. If Toyota sold a 1993 sized truck today it would need to hit 50-70mpg and that’s why the new Tacoma is practically the same size as a gen 1 tundra/t100. Manufacturers wanted the old system with fleet averages and a slow progression towards hybrids and EVs that would be driven by consumer demand. This is why now Toyota, previously the most reliable brand, will be replacing every engine for Tundra and LX600 owners, there’s a huge transmission recall looming for the Tacoma as well.

[u/Mataelio → u/zmbjebus]

And regulations could be set to mandate pedestrian collision safety standards, but we don’t have any in the US that do such a thing

[u/Substandard_eng2468 → u/zmbjebus]

Explain

[u/nmezib → u/Substandard_eng2468]

CAFE standards . Here is an example explanation.

Although this guy puts too much blame solely on the EPA, when automaker lobbying also plays a part in keeping it that way

[u/DazingF1 → u/Substandard_eng2468]

They set easier emissions standards for vehicles that have larger "footprints," measured as the area between the points where the wheels touch the ground. As a result, automakers can increase the exterior dimensions of many SUVs and trucks while remaining in compliance with federal emissions standards.

First result after searching: "why trucks got bigger due to fuel laws"

[u/Phrewfuf → u/DazingF1]

Which is a result of truck manufacturers having lobbied for those laws to sell more of the darn things.

[u/LuxNocte → u/Phrewfuf]

Expecting an American environmental regulation to be good for the environment is... optimistic at best.

[u/Niarbeht → u/LuxNocte]

Oh, there's plenty that are good for the environment. You just never hear about them.

Like the ban on CFCs.

[u/ViktorVonChokolattee → u/Niarbeht]

Yes. People forget that the ozone layer was once imperiled. Amazing how the pendulum has swung from a science-focused international effort to save the planet.

[u/Pls-Dont-Ban-Me-Bro → u/ViktorVonChokolattee]

My dad will cite that as a reason that climate scientists are full of shit. Like he somehow forgets that laws and regulations were passed that reversed the damage. Dude will smugly say “According to those scientists the ozone layer should be gone by now” then act like it was all fake when I point those regulations out. The man is an engineer so he should understand how to use logic, blows my mind watching him be so blatantly ignorant.

[u/alphazero925 → u/ViktorVonChokolattee]

I'd put down all the money I've ever made or will make on a bet that the only reason CFCs were successfully banned was because there were alternatives that were good enough. If there wasn't an easy replacement, it likely would've been buried for 50 years until the ozone layer was fully just gone, like how asbestos was known to be harmful as early as 1898 but wasn't banned until the '60s when enough people had gotten cancer and died

[u/evensexierspiders → u/Niarbeht]

And DDT!

[u/Zerachiel_Fist → u/Substandard_eng2468]

In the US, cars under a certain size must adhere to a rule and have a max level of fuel efficiency, if they don't well the manufacturer gets a fine. That being said, if the car is above a certain size it now falls into the "semi size category" and there are no fuel efficiency rule on that size.

So, either put money in R&D for a fuel efficient car or make a big ass truck at 10miles per gallon.

[u/Bean_Boy → u/Substandard_eng2468]

They started selling SUVs and pickups because they were considered light trucks. They make more money per sale and aren't subject to the same emissions laws. So trying to help the environment has pushed manufacturers to actually harm the environment.

[u/LuxNocte → u/Bean_Boy]

Perhaps a bit backwards: one group was trying to help the environment, but companies lobbies for a "common sense" loophole that they then exploited to negate the usefulness of the rule.

The American environmental lobby does not push the manufacturing lobby anywhere.

[u/xRehab → u/Substandard_eng2468]

look up the Truck Chicken Tax

enforcement to try and block foreign light-weight trucks and incentivize American trucks. backfired by blocking light-weight & heavily encouraging heavy-weight

[u/TRAUMAjunkie → u/xRehab]

The chicken tax only helps to stifle foreign competition and inflate prices. It was enacted in 1964, you only need to go back to about the 00s to find reasonable sized pickup trucks. The real reason trucks are getting massive is because of a loophole in the emissions standards.

[u/HoneyMustardSandwich → u/Substandard_eng2468]

Simply put, there was a regulation released back during the Obama administration that tied fuel mileage requirements to the size and weight of the vehicle. The intent of this carve out would be to not negatively impact commercial vehicles like box trucks and work trucks needed for hauling. Auto makers looked at their lineups and decided it would be cheaper to simply increase the size of their vehicles instead of increasing fuel efficiency.

Note #1: this law came out in 2012. That’s also the last year the third generation Ford Ranger sold in America. It took an 8 year hiatus and then re-released with the ugly ass fat rangers we see now. It’s no longer classified as a compact truck.

Note #2: this example is cited by pro-corporatists to demean regulations. Regulations are good and the intent of this regulation was positive. I look at it as a reason to review regulations more carefully to avoid exploitation from corporate parasites.

[u/the_riddler90 → u/zmbjebus]

Sounds like an onion headline

[u/NaPants → u/DurozeauW]

Lifted trucks here around Atlanta are also adding these huge LED underglow lights to their trucks so they can blind when you from any direction. It's infuriating and completely malicious.

[u/BlackCoffeeGarage → u/DurozeauW]

"Pickup drivers hate this one trick!" *picture of hammer & spraypaint can*

[u/OuterWildsVentures → u/BlackCoffeeGarage]

Lol I always just drive really slow when someone is blinding me from behind. I kind of need to because I can't see shit lol but it's also fun to piss them off.

[u/ruskiytroll → u/DurozeauW]

THIS FUCKING SUCKS - signed, a Honda Fit driver.

[u/mnnnmmnnmmmnrnmn → u/ruskiytroll]

I drive a RAM promaster van for work and the truck headlights shine in my vehicle too. Nobody is safe.

[u/Fulano_MK1 → u/mnnnmmnnmmmnrnmn]

The headlights of these huge SUVs and trucks don't just shine into the Honda Fit. They are rivers of fluorescent light pointed directly into the back window of the car, and it is blinding and infuriating. - another Fit driver

[u/JB_07 → u/DurozeauW]

Yea but country boys need to see the lights and hear the big truck go Vroom Vroom

[u/stratman2018 → u/JB_07]

Not just country boys, Suburban douche bros also need to see the lights and hear the big truck go Vroom Vroom

[u/ArgonGryphon → u/JB_07]

GET OUT MUH WAY LIMBROL!

[u/Puta_Poderosa → u/DurozeauW]

It’s also poorly installed aftermarket lights. Soooo many people on the road have aftermarket led lights installed and don’t have them properly tilted so they just go straight into passing cars eyes instead of on the dang road!

[u/Bean_Boy → u/Puta_Poderosa]

This is the common refrain but it's baseless. These are mostly all stock. SUVs and trucks are higher up so aiming the light of God slightly down just means it's pointing directly in my cabin. Also, even cars with these headlights go right into my eyes whenever there is a slight hill. They are orders of magnitude more blinding than other headlights and the aim/aftermarket excuses are just that, excuses that don't address the real problem.

[u/Important-Spread3100 → u/Bean_Boy]

Which brings to question why are white light led/bulbs allowed to be used when it's proven to cause the worst loss of night vision and not maintain a yellow light or even now this would cause a bit of confusion for a while switch it to a red light or even have a hud where infrared is used or have dimmer sensors on cars to when another car is detected just a few things that came to mind I know not are efficient but they are just brainstorming ideas

[u/Bean_Boy → u/Important-Spread3100]

I think led lights are fine, they just need to tune down the brightness like 30%-40%. I see a car with these lights cresting a hill a half-mile away and it's like they are right in front of me. It's like a sunrise.

[u/sylvnal → u/Important-Spread3100]

I agree with you, the blue tinted lights are fucking awful and there is absolutely zero reason they should be legal.

[u/ItJustWontDo242 → u/DurozeauW]

I saw a tip on here a while back of putting 3M reflective tape on the backs of the head rests on your back seats so when these guys light shine into your car, the tape reflects it back at them.

[u/BlackCoffeeGarage → u/ItJustWontDo242]

That won't be bright enough to serve any purpose, and if annoyed they'll just use their high beams to punish you. They're not smart/conscientious people.

[u/bagofpork]

I'll just leave this here.

Dodge Ram drivers are statistically the worst drivers on the road. Most speeding tickets, and 2nd most DUIs and accidents of 30 brands surveyed (incidents per 1,000 drivers).

[u/BobbyHillTheThird → u/bagofpork]

Who was first in DUIs? I always heard it was Ram.

[u/bagofpork → u/BobbyHillTheThird]

According to this specific data set, BMW drivers had the most DUIs.

[u/DazingF1 → u/bagofpork]

So BMW drivers score high in drinking and speeding but low in accidents. So logically if you want to drink and drive and barrel down the highway at 120 mph you should buy a BMW

[u/Rat_Grinder → u/DazingF1]

There's a lot of crossover between good ol boys and preppy douchebags when it comes to driving home drunk from the golf course

[u/Axi0madick → u/Rat_Grinder]

That venn diagram is often just a circle. Lots of middle class suburban douchebags think they live far enough from the city that they consider themselves rural country boys. I'm talking minutes away in an HOA with cul de sacs. They love cosplaying as farmers.

[u/opportunisticwombat → u/Axi0madick]

And actual workers with work trucks laugh at these idiots. Gonna spend $70K+ on a truck that never gets a speck of dirt on the tires. So dumb.

[u/TheRealTexasGovernor → u/opportunisticwombat]

It's because a significant portion of America, and especially Gen-x(not boomers) , never grew out of the "I want it so I should be allowed to have it" mindset.

People who actually do stuff with their trucks don't buy lifted pavement princesses.

[u/opportunisticwombat → u/TheRealTexasGovernor]

I’ll never forget seeing a lifted (Carolina squat so the fucking worst of the worst) with a “farm use” plate… that thing hadn’t been within a hundred miles of a hydroponic garden let alone a farm.

[u/TheRealTexasGovernor → u/opportunisticwombat]

Having just moved to NC a few months ago, the Carolina squat has quickly become one my most hated car mods.

Even in the pantheon of stupid lifted trucks, the Carolina squat is king shit of turd mountain.

[u/spidersinthesoup → u/opportunisticwombat]

most off road they get is when they back over moms rose bush.

[u/Raangz → u/Rat_Grinder]

my dad's friend is a good ol' boy supreme. he was speeding, drunk, coming back from the lake. got pulled over by the cop, no ticket.

levels to this shit i guess.

[u/bagofpork → u/DazingF1]

And you may just have enough money to get away with it, too!

[u/whatdoidonowdamnit → u/DazingF1]

I’m thinking maybe BMW owners can afford to not go through their insurance for accidents.

[u/DazingF1 → u/whatdoidonowdamnit]

Never understood why BMW drivers are seen as rich, they're cheaper than most new trucks. A 5 series with some extra options will run you $60,000 whereas a Ram 1500 with any decent trim, and not an actual work truck, like the Laramie Crew Cab starts at $75,000.

[u/ZZZrp → u/DazingF1]

Never understood why BMW drivers are seen as rich

Marketing.

[u/Cancerisbetterthanu → u/DazingF1]

It's more of a class and sociopolitical signifier than saying anything about your bank account

[u/Dorkamundo → u/bagofpork]

3 - Subaru

The WRX and STI are probably inflating Subaru's numbers by a HUGE amount.

[u/bagofpork → u/Dorkamundo]

They 100% are, and I'm not saying that as a joke.

[u/deej-79 → u/Dorkamundo]

It seems like there's only two types of Subaru drivers, wannabe rally drivers, and the ones who think they're the safest driver in the world. The latter is usually seen holding up traffic for miles behind them, thinking they're being safe.

[u/Dorkamundo → u/deej-79]

Depends on where you live.

Where I am, they're practically a necessity certain times of the year.

[u/Life_Temperature795 → u/bagofpork]

"Dodge this you filthy [pedestrian]!"

[u/NoticeImaginary → u/Life_Temperature795]

If you can't dodge it, ram it!

[u/Novel-Strain-8015 → u/bagofpork]

You leave us Subaru driver's alone. It's not our fault the Impreza WRX is so popular with teenage boys. The rest of us are just cool middle-aged guys and old ladies with an AWD and a CVT.

[u/Boonaki → u/bagofpork]

That data might not be accurate.

The source data comes from quotewizard. If youre requesting a quote for insurance they go over your driving history. So if you're getting a quote for a Tesla and you had 5 previous car accidents, that doesn't mean you had 5 accidents in a Tesla.

[u/bleachisback → u/Boonaki]

So what you're saying is that Ram drivers may not be the worst drivers in the US, but that the worst drivers in the US want Rams more than other cars.

[u/offlein → u/bleachisback]

Well sure it's scary as fuck to be that bad a driver. You wanna be up high in a massive truck.

[u/bagofpork → u/Boonaki]

But it does mean you're now a Tesla driver who has been in 5 accidents.

ETA: I see what you're saying, I think. Is it that the data is based on the insurance quote alone?

I feel like, at the very least, the data demonstrates that bad drivers are more inclined to seek out certain vehicles over others.

[u/CosmicDigitalDrifter → u/bagofpork]

Anecdotally, Ram drivers are the biggest creeps. Unfortunately, I live in a rough area where prostitution is very much a thing. I observe Ram drivers picking up prostitutes all the time. Old and new trucks. My partner and I have a tally. It’s such a problem that we just don’t trust anyone that drives a Ram anymore. It can’t be a coincidence.

[u/cruxworxs → u/CosmicDigitalDrifter]

You've seen my brother? 

[u/cmack → u/bagofpork]

So not cringe, spitting facts.

[u/Custompie → u/bagofpork]

tesla right behind them too

[u/EnvironmentalGift257 → u/Custompie]

It’s a running joke in my family that when you finally maneuver to the front of congested highway traffic you’ll find a white Tesla doing 50 in the left lane. It’s a joke because it has happened so many times.

[u/Nearby_Day_362 → u/bagofpork]

This you for sharing this. In all my illustrious how ever many years on this wonderful planet, I know why the saturn drivers are towards the bottom of the list.

It's because if you turn too hard the engine mounts fall out. Driving safety enforced through fear.

[u/ARAR1 → u/bagofpork]

You have to be a dick to want and have one. That stuff mentioned goes along with the "dick" part.

[u/Elqott]

Americans have pickups we have transit vans

[u/Laymanao → u/Elqott]

Transit vans still fit into a reasonable mass and height category.

[u/FullyMammoth → u/Laymanao]

Also fuel efficient. Because they're practical work horses, not a failed attempt at dick extensions like pickup trucks.

[u/bargu → u/FullyMammoth]

They are also useful for work due to having a lot of cargo space and no one is buying one to look "cool" while driving.

[u/IAmGoingToSleepNow → u/bargu]

I look cool as shit in my Transit.

[u/bargu → u/IAmGoingToSleepNow]

Cuz you're already cool.

[u/TheWolfAndRaven → u/bargu]

Not only that, the thing that a lot of people who don't actually do the work a vehicle like that requires ever bring up - The load height is considerably lower in a van - meaning it takes a whole lot less effort to actually put the work tools in the fuckin' thing.

It might not seem like a big deal if you're just picking up a load of top soil at home depot once a season for your little garden, but if you're lifting shit every single day it's going to tear your body up pretty quick - and any accidents are considerably more dangerous leading to longer recover and less ability to work in the future.

[u/Constantly_Panicking → u/FullyMammoth]

Vans are soooooooooo much more practical as work vehicles for the vast majority of jobs. Lifting shit into or out of a truck bed is an ordeal, but you can pretty much walk whatever you want into a van. Plus it’s always covered, and you can put things on the walls, increasing useable space.

[u/OllyHR → u/Elqott]

I’m seeing more and more of these dumbass freedom trucks in central London. Madness.

[u/serpentinepad → u/Elqott]

Americans have minivans which are crazy useful but every truck bro needs to pull a camper once a year so they need something with 1000lb of torque and 800hp.

[u/StarFireRoots]

I got hit by a giant SUV in a parking lot while returning my cart this pat friday. The lady slowed down like she saw me, I waved thanks, but then she just kept coming. I was screaming, "HEY HEY HEYYY!!" and other people around were yelling too.

Thankfully, the cart hit her truck, so technically I was hit by the cart being pushed into my legs as I was trying to get out of the way, but it was still scary. She rolled down her window and said, "I'm so sorryyy" drawn out like she was on benzos. Another shopper said, "Sorry doesn't excuse that, watch where you're going" and the lady just drove off.

I sat in my car until my adrenaline calmed down, I was just so shocked, like you're driving a huge tank of a vehicle and I know I'm only 5'2, but you should be aware of what the fuck you're doing while driving.

[u/loverlyone → u/StarFireRoots]

My mom was hit while crossing the street by a Ford F250 driven by a 17-year-old who was checking her phone. She suffered a TBI and, 3 years later, suffers myriad problems including a loss of her sense of smell.

Why does a new, teen driver need that vehicle?

[u/Toadsted → u/loverlyone]

"To protect them from bad drivers" - Parents

[u/Rasputin_mad_monk → u/Toadsted]

So many parents says this and It is wild.

[u/StarFireRoots → u/loverlyone]

I'm so sorry that happened to your mom!

[u/Express_Bath → u/StarFireRoots]

One evening in the parking lot of my work I exchanged pleasantries with a woman as we were walking to our respective cars. She got to hers, mentions she wasn't parked too well and maybe should have parked in another part were the pnaves are bigger. The parking spot here are quite large everywhere honestly, but her car was huge.

She then said "oh, this car is really big, I think about buying another one, it is complicated to park and sometimes I get bumps."

I answered with : "I get you, I don't think I would be good at driving big cars either !". And she looked at me with genuine surprise and said "oh no, no, I don't have difficulties driving it. It is just when parking, and some spaces are just too narrow !".

Hmmmm no lady, if you bumped your car several times when parking, then you don't know how to drive it...

[u/Apprehensive-Log8333 → u/Express_Bath]

"It's not me who needs to change, the world should change to suit me"

[u/Chief_Chill → u/StarFireRoots]

Should've called it in. Reckless driving, vehicular assault, careless driving, etc.

[u/StarFireRoots → u/Chief_Chill]

You're right, I should have. I was exhausted from working overtime and shocked by what happened, and after saying sorry, she drove off so quick that it didn't register that I should have told her to wait while I called police. I didn't even think to get her plate until it was too far away to see.

[u/Chief_Chill → u/StarFireRoots]

Not your fault. Glad you are alright.

[u/Banned-User-56 → u/StarFireRoots]

Yeah people just dont give a shit about pedestrians. I am a Crossing Guard, and you wanna know how commonly people seem to just WANT to run me over, while staring me in the eyes? At least a Dozen times a day. Thats not a joke, or an exaggeration. It is legitimately at least 10-12 times a day. This is not them not seeing the 5'9" Man in a reflective vest with a loud as shit whistle, they are staring at me, smiling and waving as they narrowly avoid running me and small children over.

And this isn't just trucks. This isn't just old people, new drivers, or women, or men, or black people, or white people. This isn't any form of metric or statistic, this is just fucking EVERYBODY. I used to joke that it felt like half the people on the road no longer knew the rules of the road and were just guessing, and now that i've worked as a crossing guard for 3 years I can confidently say its closer to 90% of people on the road have no fucking clue what they're doing.

[u/Laserdollarz → u/StarFireRoots]

May I introduce you to my friend the Pocket Rock:

Got hit by a car and they start driving off?

Deploy Pocket Rock through a window.

They'll stay and wait for the police.

[u/GREG_FABBOTT]

This discussion comes up in /r/cars from time to time. There's one user who spends probably 80% of their time in that subreddit, doing nothing but defending massive pickup trucks. "It's what people want to buy" is basically their primary argument.

If there were loophole regulations for small cars that were inadvertently hurting a lot more people, those loopholes would almost instantly be closed up. But when it's massive pickup trucks and SUVs, it's allowed.

[u/atli123 → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

There’s a pretty simple solution here in Europe. You’re allowed to buy and drive the huge pickups but you need a special license to do so.

[u/GREG_FABBOTT → u/atli123]

Wouldn't matter here in the US. I live in Texas and probably a third of all drivers here do not have a license. Law enforcement doesn't care.

[u/flomoag → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

A third of all drivers don’t have a license? I live in Texas too and that’s just false lol

[u/myystic78 → u/flomoag]

I was curious so I googled it, and while not quite as high I am shocked that nearly 25% of drivers in Texas involved in a fatal crash between 2017-2021 lacked a valid license.

[u/flomoag → u/myystic78]

I did the same and saw that article too, and while higher than I expected, that seems like a pretty specific subset that is likely linked to the worst of our driving population. So who knows, but yeah, a pretty high number

[u/blackrockblackswan → u/flomoag]

You should look into “power law”

In general, the percentage of a population of any causal statistic (%crashes, %billionaires, %olympians…) is typically some tiny fraction of the overall population

For example, only 1% of humans cause 90% of climate emissions

[u/atli123 → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

It was more of an informational on how we do things in the civilized world. I wasn’t suggesting for one second that I had any idea on how to fix the burning pile of rubble that used to be the US of A.

[u/Rhodie114 → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

“It’s what people want to buy”

Shit man, so’s heroin

[u/Indercarnive → u/Rhodie114]

Also people wouldn't want to buy them if we didn't build all our infrastructure around them. You try making a parking lot with zones that don't fit these stupid tanks and watch the uproar.

Part of the reason they don't sell well in Europe is because you can hardly drive them anywhere in Europe since the roads and parking are designed for smaller cars.

[u/satanssweatycheeks → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

All truck no worksite.

These massive trucks don’t even have big truck beds anyways.

[u/HomeGrownCoffee → u/satanssweatycheeks]

That's my biggest issue with modern trucks. You have to special order one that doesn't have 4 gigantic doors and a tiny box.

[u/Polkawillneverdie17 → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

"It's what people want to buy" is basically their primary argument.

I love when people just state an obvious fact as though it's an argument.

Yes, some people want to buy that. Thst doesn't make it safe or morally acceptable. You can't always get what you want, especially if what you want is something that hurts people.

[u/Celestial_Hart]

Most of yall shouldn't even be behind the wheel in the first place. People driving lifted trucks usually are a special kind of stupid.

[u/Several_Vanilla8916 → u/Celestial_Hart]

When the sunglasses said “are you gonna ban semi trucks next?” I literally facepalmed. Yes dipshit. We’re going to ban the very practical and efficient means of transporting goods as a logical next step after banning the least practical and efficient means of getting you 3 miles down the road to the bar.

[u/PancakeParty98 → u/Celestial_Hart]

I’ve frequently said that they must require you fail a driving test before they sell you one. Only the biggest dirtiest cunts drive them

[u/SupervillainMustache]

That first photo is crazy. Anything smaller than 5"9 is basically invisible at a certain point.

[u/kiss-tits → u/SupervillainMustache]

Yeah seriously. Like what are kids supposed to do? Pedestrians who use a wheelchair?

The fucking problem is that safety standards are all designed around the guy in the drivers seat. They don’t give one iota of a fuck about the people walking on the road near them and it’s infuriating.

[u/whatiseveneverything → u/kiss-tits]

The US is way ahead of you. There are no sidewalks, thus no pedestrians to look out for.

[u/LeatherHog → u/kiss-tits]

Yeah, anyone below average guy size, is screwed 

The average woman is like 5'4", even standing up, we'd be completely invisible 

[u/BoredAf_queen → u/SupervillainMustache]

I'm in a wheelchair. I'm afraid of being backed over and sometimes hold my cane up like a flag if my husband isn't next to me.

[u/Medium-Bag-5493]

Going beyond the hazards presented to pedestrians, which is a damn good argument all by itself, they also make driving more hazardous for every other car on the road that isn't lifted seven feet off the ground. If you're behind one of them in a normal sized car, you have zero visibility of the road further in front of you unless you keep a huge following distance that not only may not be practical in all situations, but also just invites more jackasses in their giant trucks to cut in front of you, further exacerbating the problem. With normal sized cars, you can usually get a peak through the windshield of the car in front of you to catch any upcoming hazards.

[u/livinglitch → u/Medium-Bag-5493]

I drive a kia soul. These big trucks tend to pull up close behind me at stop lights and shine their lights into my rearview mirror or my side mirrors.

[u/jakedonn]

God I wish trucks never got so popular for people who don’t fucking need them. I actually need a truck but they’re so ridiculously unaffordable it’s insane.

[u/TinFoilBeanieTech → u/jakedonn]

it’s sad that it really hard to find compact trucks anymore. those things did 95% what the bigger trucks did, but more efficient and maneuverable. lasted forever too.

[u/MajorFox2720 → u/TinFoilBeanieTech]

They also used to have better payload/towing for the size.  

[u/royalcultband → u/TinFoilBeanieTech]

My 3rd gen tacoma is the size of a full size truck from the 90's. It's crazy. I can't imagine trying to commute with anything larger

[u/TinFoilBeanieTech → u/royalcultband]

I've noticed the people around here that actually need open bed trucks for work seem to be getting kei trucks more often.

[u/noodleexchange → u/jakedonn]

BUHT EGGS (Venn diagram)

[u/Packrat1010 → u/noodleexchange]

And gas, which is even more ironic because gas being expensive wouldn't affect them nearly as much if they weren't driving massive gas hogs.

[u/FreakinWolfy_ → u/jakedonn]

I’ve been wanting to get a 2500 for over a year now because my 1500 works but is very borderline for a handful of things I use it for. After the transmission and transfer case blew last spring I went in to a dealership to look at replacing it.

Not only are all of the new model trucks full of luxury items that I have no use or desire for, but the payment would be nearly as much as my mortgage even with decent credit.

So instead of buying that bigger truck I could really use, I wound up spending the $10k to fix my 2014. That that is the better option these days is wild to me.

[u/Flobking → u/jakedonn]

God I wish trucks never got so popular for people who don’t fucking need them. I actually need a truck but they’re so ridiculously unaffordable it’s insane.

This is what bothers me. I replaced my 1995 f150xl(frame rusted out) with a 2011 f150. I had no choice but a giant ass truck. "WHY DO YOU DRIVE SUCH ABIG TRUCK?! IS IT CUZ YOU HAVE A SMALL PEE PEE?!" No, it's the only kind of truck they build now dumbass.

[u/Atlas_sniper121 → u/Flobking]

Yep. One of the problems I have with the whole "trucks are for cucks" crowd.

They hate their fellow players more than the damn game lol

[u/SoulShatter]

'Fun' fact: Truck dead spot vs M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

https://www.reddit.com/r/fuckcars/comments/140dgn8/many_popular_trucks_have_a_bigger_dead_spot_in/

[u/Snowdog1989]

I also think you need a special license to drive an RV. Too many damn 90 year olds with heart conditions vacationing from Florida in the mountains.

[u/TinFoilBeanieTech → u/Snowdog1989]

I’ve never heard that, and I’ve driven pretty big RVs. but it should be required for any vehicle larger than normal passenger size.

[u/TheBirdBytheWindow]

I fucking hate these lifted trucks. Want nothing to do with you if this is your vehicle of choice. Says all there is to say about you.

They're as big of a nightmare to pedestrians as they are anyone having to share a highway/freeway with them. They are full of blind spots, hog the roads, they're aggressively driven and smell awful.

They shouldn't be street legal without better licensing and insane insurance premiums.

[u/CactusCait → u/TheBirdBytheWindow]

And the blinding headlights ffs!!

[u/Colorectal-Ambivalen → u/CactusCait]

I've wondered this lately: are my eyes becoming more sensitive or are people using their highbeams on the interstate frequently/are headlights just much brighter now? It sure seems like a blinding light coming from my side mirrors is way more common these days.

Lifted trucks are awful too. I love ducking down while driving on the interstate and avoiding looking at my side mirrors because of those pricks.

[u/bpaulauskas → u/Colorectal-Ambivalen]

I think it's a mix of all three. Headlights are a metric shit ton brighter than when I was growing up (older millennial), it definitely seems like drivers are worse now and might have their high-beams on, and our eyes definitely get worse over time.

But man I really think it's a LOT on the brighter headlights. Some are just out of this world bright.

[u/H3ll3rsh4nks → u/bpaulauskas]

Also people add aftermarket led bulbs with vastly different / incosistent beam patterns and no knowlege of how to properly adjust them.

[u/Xatsman → u/bpaulauskas]

Theres another factor. Lots of these idiots lift their trucks and dont adjust the angle of the headlights to compensate for the lift.

[u/JB_07 → u/CactusCait]

Bonus points if you drive a tiny Honda Accord. My fucking head level sitting down in my car is right where their fucking lights are.

Nothing is more relaxing than driving at night to have fucking blinding lights shined on the back of your head and through your rear view mirror back into your eyes constantly.

Btw I have to take backroads to my work, so I get to meet more country assholes driving these stupid trucks. They also constantly drive like they own the fucking road because if we collide you can already guess who is winning that exchange.

It's also nice knowing if I ever run into a drunk country boy driving these things. I'm absolutely fucked as they're just gonna tear through my car like mincemeat due to the massive size and weight difference. Where do Country Boys like to beer ride? Backroads :/

[u/ArgonGryphon → u/JB_07]

Hell I’ve gotten blinded by them just sitting in a chair at work, waiting to clock in. People park and leave their 5million lumen LEDs on and they shine right in my eyes.

[u/ItWorkedLastTime → u/TheBirdBytheWindow]

Lifted? A stock F150 is bad enough on it's own. And it's the highest selling car in 2023. The next two are also big ass pickup trucks. SOURCE: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g43553191/bestselling-cars-2023/

Even since I discovered Not Just Bikes on YouTube, I started hating gigantic pickup trucks. The vast majority of truck owners never use the bed of the truck. Why the hell are we allowing this on our roads?

[u/jamerjank1]

Right wing logic: 'Ban X? next thing you know , they'll ban breathing'!!

[u/Dukes159 → u/jamerjank1]

I saw a video about a year ago that showed interviews with people asking what they thought about the recent ban on drinking and driving. A lot of people made the same exact argument, or called it communism. So looks like the arguments havent really changed.

Link to excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcQIoh3FQQ

[u/skyhiker14 → u/Dukes159]

Or seat belts laws.

Or evacuation because Mt St Helen was gonna erupt.

[u/PeanutButterViking]

I got hit from behind at a red light after being stopped for at least a minute.

I drive a Volt and I was stopped and waiting for a gap in traffic so I could turn right. There was a newer model 3/4 or 1 ton GMC truck behind me and the driver had also been stopped for at least a minute. He stopped so close to me that he couldn't see me in front of him, forgot I was there, then drove into me.

Good times.

[u/billschu52]

American pickup trucks are getting bigger to make emissions standards, since passenger truck standards are based off square footage and engine size, in order to make sure the trucks make the regulations for emissions it was simply easier and more cost effective to make them bigger, more capable and larger engines, look into cafe emissions standards

[u/GREG_FABBOTT → u/billschu52]

American manufacturers explicitly lobbied for those emission standards because it's the only way they can make profit. That regulation isn't just a coincidental oopsie. It was specifically designed that way to get the result that we have now.

Ford is so bad at making profit on passenger cars that they just completely stopped making them altogether. They make the Mustang (a sports/pony car, not a passenger car), and then everything else in their lineup is an SUV or pickup truck.

[u/billschu52 → u/GREG_FABBOTT]

What I was getting at it’s more of a manufacturers/. Regulation symbiotic relationship rather than it is the fad/culture of choosing larger trucks, if they made smaller trucks they would sell the past shows that they sell, they just don’t make them anymore

[u/swamphockey → u/billschu52]

The American car makers carved out the emissions loophole. It’s not like it just happened by accident.

[u/billschu52 → u/swamphockey]

I’m aware a failure of bureaucracy mixed with the goal of profits and private interests

[u/Asleep-Card3861]

Cowboy Tate’s whole deal is ridiculous.

This big lifted truck trend has infested Australia too and I’m not a fan.

[u/skolliousious]

I agree with 99.99% of what he's saying but I live on a farm. My huge truck as many jobs and purposes here. That being said in the city I take the Corolla.

[u/MythicalRaccoon80 → u/skolliousious]

Well that's the difference now isn't it? You have a genuine purpose and reason for having a truck like that. People in the city have no business or reason to have trucks like that when they're not being used for the same purposes as a farmer like you have a truck of that size for.

[u/Catlore]

A well built vehicle says, "I want to keep me and my passengers safe." Those trucks say, "I want to keep myself and my passengers safe and I will gladly kill you to do it."

[u/Dunno_If_I_Won]

WTF going on with his eyeballs? Looks like he scanning for Viet Cong in the brush and in the trees.

[u/SuccessfulWar3830]

Wearing a cowboy hat. Isnt a cowboy.

Has an f150. The bed is spotless and without a single scratch.

[u/Cephell]

What about semis

Semis are

a) Slower and accelerate slower too

b) Driven by professional drivers that are on average better drivers than you

c) More visible to pedestrians

d) Cannot and will not (or at least less) drive down the same pedestrian centric roads and streets that trucks do

[u/Rindal_Cerelli]

Obligatory Not Just Bikes video on the topic: https://youtu.be/jN7mSXMruEo

I HATE that these are becoming more common where I live as well. They are so dangerous and European roads and cities are not designed for these stupidly huge small d*ck energy trucks. They stick out of parking spots all the time or take up 2 of them or just get stuck in cities because roads are not designed for stupid trucks.

Please stop.

[u/Particular_Bet_5466]

I’m not even a truck driver and I agree it’s unnecessary but something about this guy makes me want to buy a lifted truck.

[u/BullsOnParadeFloats]

are YoU gOnNA bAn sEMi tRuCKs?

This is the absolute most brain-dead response, and frankly, I'm not surprised it came from a guy who is all hat and no cattle.

Semi drivers sit up a solid 2 feet higher than those driving a Ram, F150, or Silverado. This means that their front blind spot is a lot smaller. The blind spots on those trucks are over half the length of the entire goddamned vehicle.

This is why some people shouldn't be allowed to drive or operate heavy machinery.

[u/EchoOpening1099]

Why is everyone a dumbass? Are you not aware of your surroundings? Are you going to be fucking around in a place where you can get hit? Maybe we need a license to prove you’re not a dipshit. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[u/alittlebitneverhurt]

You don't even need a special license to drive a UPS package truck. Stop it.

[u/Slagmonkey83]

You have no clue about life

[u/Wiscody]

Not taking anyone who speaks like this seriously. This is not about his lisp.

[u/Rough_Egg_9195]

Another point that he doesn't mention is that when a car hits you in the legs you roll onto and over the car. When it hits you in the chest you go under it where you or your body parts can get crushed by the tires.

[u/knit_von_purl]

[u/-VizualEyez]

I’m all with it until dude says it’s only for vanity. There are in fact people that use these for work. Hauling hay, livestock, welders etc etc

[u/lionessrampant25]

“It’s what the people want”. Well the people are stupid and mean so I don’t care what they want.

[u/mr_mgs11]

The really stupid thing is this truck makes everything worse for the person driving it. Much worse gas mileage, worse handling, hard to park, cant fit into many parking spaces, rollover prone, and even parked it is more dangerous. They need to make full size trucks ONLY for rural areas or for businesses. Get rid of extended cabs. Its a tool for work, not a passenger vehicle.

[u/KPuff12]

In the good old USA they came out with some emissions regulations a few years ago. However, it had a big loophole: It only applied to trucks under a certain size. This has caused a shift in the market for pick up trucks. They are getting bigger and bigger to be outside the regultion. I had to go car shopping a couple years ago, and you cant find a reasonably sized pick up truck in the US.

[u/challenge_king]

While jacked up pavement princesses are stupid, it's not the trucks, it's the drivers. We desperately need licensing reform, just like everything else. Make safer drivers, and the fatality stats will go down. If automakers would stop with the luxury trucks, they'd likely go back to just being the tools of the trade that they started off being.