SUV Pricing for Environmental and Safety - Essay Example

Due to the cost as well as the safety aspect associated with SUV's the demand for these vehicles is slowing down. According to a study carried out by Cambridge Energy Research, the percentage of sales of sports utility vehicles dropped from 56 percent of all vehicles sold in 2004 to 53 percent in 2006 (Williamson, 2006). Safety Concerns: There is a misconception that SUV's are safer than car, however they are more dangerous and according to a government study, the occupant death rate for mid-sized SUV is 6% higher than the car and for large SUVs the death rate of occupants is 6% higher than mid sized cars or minivan (SUVs: Dangers on the road, n.d.).

SUVs are not safe as these appear and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government agency, has described two characteristics of SUVs and other light trucks that can increase the fatalities: rollovers propensity and crash compatibility (SUVs: Escalating risks on the highways, n.d.). Rollover is a major safety concern in SUV's. The main reason are these vehicles are heavier and ride higher than regular cars and these factors particularly the later contributes propensity to roll over in accidents and similarly the recent study shows that SUVs on roads are greatly increasing the dangers for drivers and passengers in other cars (SUVs: Escalating risks on highways, n.d.). Environ. Actually the government regulations for SUVs are ambiguous and these vehicles are categorized with light truck where the average fuel economy achieved by these is only 20.

7 mpg in compare to 27.5 mpg set for cars (Environmental double standards for sports utility vehicles, n.d.). California along with nine other states has demanded to raise the fuel economy standards for these vehicles so that the environmental pollution produced by these vehicles can be minimized (Baker, May, 2, 2006). California is the first state who has argued in favor of toughest regulation on air standards and fuel economy. A car having mileage of 27.5 mpg is likely to emit 54 tons of carbon dioxide from burning of gasoline over its life time as compare to 100 tons from a SUV that has a mileage of 14 mpg over its entire life (Environmental double standards for sports utility vehicles, n.d.).

Carbon dioxide contributes is one among the green house gases and it traps heat in the atmosphere (Green House Emmission, 2007).Should SUVs priced higher or lower to reflect their environmental and safety aspect A) Yes: Let us say yes, SUVs should be priced to reflect their impact on environment and safety. As we have already seen these have severe impact on environment as well the safety on road of these vehicles is not only pose a danger to the driver and passengers of SUV itself but to other driver and passengers of other vehicles especially lighter cars.

The rising greenhouse gases are expected to raise the temperature from 06 to2.5 degree in the next fifty years. According to an estimate around 2000 people have been saved if their vehicles would have been hit by heavy cars instead of SUVs (Environmental double standards for