By Shae Huisjen
Photos courtesy of Fair Companies
Many drivers across the nation own a pickup truck. Some use their truck for hauling large or heavy objects, while others use it for show. Although trucks are often viewed as a powerful symbol of grit, strength, and the American spirit, they have proven to be less-than-efficient vehicles. From their harmful impact on the environment to their maneuverability and the threat they pose to other cars and pedestrians, trucks are terrible on the road.
Most people know that cars are terrible for the environment, but many people skip over the fact that trucks are even worse than the average car. According to ucsusa.org, most
trucks are powered by diesel engines, which constantly consume large amounts of fuel and emit a mixture of harmful pollutants, such as Nitrogen Oxides. Therefore, trucks require and expend more than the average car, resulting in a greater negative effect on the environment.
Not only are trucks dangerous for the environment, but their bulky build makes them dangerous for everyone else on the roads and sidewalks. Modern pickup trucks have tall hoods, large blind spots, and stiff body-on-frame designs. Per ucs.org, these characteristics make it so that if you were hit by a truck versus a smaller car, there would be a “47% increase in the risk of death”. Imagine getting rammed into by a 4,000-pound vehicle on the road simply because you were in their blind spot. Due to their large blind spots and high positioning, pickup trucks aren’t even safe for the truck drivers either. This is counterintuitive because people love feeling big and safe when driving their truck, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. Not only are trucks dangerous to drive, but they are also awkward to maneuver. Their size makes them difficult to park, and when a truck is poorly parked, it makes it harder for everyone else trying to park around them. Trucks also have a wide turning radius and struggle to fit in tight places, which only makes driving more difficult.
Unfortunately, pickup trucks will only increase in size in the future, as cleantechnica.com states the hood height has grown by 11% since 2000. This increase in size will lead to an increase in issues with these vehicles, as the lack of visibility and maneuverability will get worse.
There are so many issues with these vehicles, yet most people pay them no mind. This may be because of the projected stereotype of trucks being rugged and strong, or because hardly anyone thinks about these problems when purchasing one. Truck buyers don’t consider how much trucks hurt the environment, and how deadly they are for others in a crash, or even how difficult they actually are to drive. Nobody pays enough attention to how trucks are truly terrible vehicles. So, if you are ever considering buying a pickup truck, keep these issues in mind before making any rash decisions.
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