4WD drivers really as bad as we thought

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"FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE owners, already seen as a road menace, are more dangerous than we thought, a study of more than 40,000 vehicles has found.

"A person behind the wheel of one is far more likely to be wielding a mobile phone while driving, and less likely to wear a seatbelt, researchers say. They have concluded that four-wheel-drive owners take more risks because they feel safer.

"But that distorted logic is a threat to the safety of everyone on the road, says Lesley Walker, a research associate with Imperial College London's primary care and social medicine department.

"Along with Australian researchers from the University of Queensland, Ms Walker observed the drivers of 38,182 cars and 2944 four-wheel-drives at three varied sites in London.

"They found the 4WD drivers were almost four times more likely than car drivers to be using a mobile phone, and 26 per cent more likely not to wear a seatbelt ..."
Sydney Morning Herald

Lid dip to Baz 'SUV' le Tuff.

Tagged: 4wd, suv