Confirmation of what I've always thought...

Off-road safety myth exposed

Children are no safer in SUVs than in standard passenger cars, says a report from US accident experts. They say the increased risk of a 4x4 rolling wipes out the potential safety of riding in a big off-roader.

The study, from American insurance firm State Farm, looked at 4,000 child accidents and found similar injury rates of 1.7 per cent in SUVs and cars.

This, when combined with the damage you will do to everyone else if in a crash in an off-road vehicle (and you are probably more likely to do so in any case as the high driving position gives the false impression of driving slower, explaining why people seem to speed more in 4x4s; the brakes are MUCH worse (hate having a Freelander behind me, they have possibly the worst braking distance on the road); and the steering responsiveness due to the high centre of gravity is seriously compromised), is why everyone should see sense and stop this moronic race to have a bigger "car" than your neighbour. When would it end?