Part 1: I Hate SUVs

I hate SUVs. Let me lay that out there right now. I think they are too big and ugly. Not only are they big and ugly, they are uneconomical, dangerous, roadhogs and environmental villains. But people continue to buy SUVs and manufacturers continue to make bigger and "better" (not really) ones.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to try and convince everyone that if they are thinking of an SUV, think again. And if they have an SUV, I hope I can make them feel like one of the world's biggest jerks - because they are.

Fact 1:
SUVs are NOT safer than cars.
"The SUV has become the new station wagon." "I have five kids, what else can I drive?" I don't know how often I hear these comments when it comes to people driving SUVs. But let's get this straight right now, SUVs are NOT safer than cars. They never have been and never will be.

In 2002, it was estimated that there would be 70,000 SUV rollovers, which would result in 2,000 deaths. SUVs have become even more dangerous in recent years.

Check out the statistics on rollover possibilities that is provided by the government's National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

Did you know that there is a 28 percent to 34 percent chance your Ford Explorer will rollover? Will you risk yours and your children's live day after day by having them ride in a vehicle that will rollover nearly a quarter of the time an evasive maneuver is needed? My Honda Civic has an 11 percent chance of rolling over.

What does that mean in real numbers?

Say the sales of those two types of cars were equal - 320,000 Explorers were sold and 320,000 Civics were sold. That would mean that it could be estimated that 89,600 of those Explorers will eventually rollover, while 35,200 Civics would - a difference of 54,400 rollovers. (In 2003, 373,118 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Tracs were sold. That same year, 299,672 Honda Civics were sold.) Are SUVs worth that risk? Are your children worth that risk?

Up Next: SUVs, dangerous to others