The most popular vehicles around these days are the so- called "sport-utility vehicles" -- light trucks.

 Now, I'd consider a true sport-utility vehicle to be something that is, well, sporty and of some utility. You know, like a Subaru Outback Sport (sporty, has cargo space and all-wheel drive) or even a Volvo 850 wagon (sporty, has cargo space and four doors). In fact, I'd even put a Rabbit GTI in that category - it had great performance, room for four, 30 mpg, and a large trunk for even more utility. Or, better, a PT Cruiser.

Somehow, it's hard for me to put most trucks into the SUV category, even though I will admit that most of them have a lot of cargo space, and some are quite fast (the Grand Cherokee 5.9 comes to mind). But can they take a turn? Stop on a dime? Get more than 22 mpg? Somehow, I think not.

Are light trucks necessary? Not for most of the people who buy them.

(Note: Yes, I know some people actually need them. This article is not about them. Not do I favor making them illegal. Read on before you write an angry letter. Oh, and based on the angry letters I've received, learn to write too.)

4 x 4

Why do people buy 4x4s? Some buy them for the macho image - note the popular newsgroup alt.autos.macho.trucks. Hey, anyone who needs a truck to be macho really can't be very macho at all. I suspect Clint Eastwood would be more macho coming out of a VW Bug than most 4x4 owners climbing down from their Yukons.

 Some people honestly do buy 4x4s because they live in Rhode Island, Greenland, Northwest Territories, or some other place where it snows all the time. They really do need four wheel drive. Unfortunately, most people don't need it at all. Usually, in a given year in a state like, say, New Jersey, there is a single day when, before the plows come around, you need something with ground clearance and four wheel drive. Somethink like a Subaru Outback or Jeep Wrangler.

Usually, though, it's safer to be in a car when you're driving on snow. It might be a little harder to get out of the driveway, but if you have front (or all) wheel drive, you can usually drive as well as the big 4x4s. Better, in fact, because when you want to stop or turn, you don't have two tons of truck with you. Chances are, your car is about 25% lighter than the truck in front of you; more so if you have a Neon and they have a Navigator.

Most 4x4 owners have the idea that they get extra traction all the time. How about this: they have extra traction when they're accelerating, because that's the only time 4 wheel drive matters. When you're stopping, which is the most dangerous part of winter driving, 4 wheel drive is largely irrelevant (someone recently disputed this, but I haven't been able to find any evidence either way. Still, as one reader pointed out: you still only have four tires!). Antilock brakes are another story -- though many drivers apparently place their faith in them, which is as foolish as relying on 4 wheel drive to stop your truck; because you simply can't get traction on ice, and can't get a whole lot of traction on sand.

For most people, 4x4 capability means an extra four hundred or so pounds of steel to carry around, a bit less gas mileage, and a thousand dollars added to their price sticker. If they get a truck and justify it by saying it has 4x4, they're just kidding themselves. You can get the far superior all wheel drive from any Subaru, and quite a few other cars.

Back to trucks

Okay, now you're asking why I don't want other people to buy light trucks if they want 'em. How about this: light trucks are much more likely to be involved in a lethal accident with a car. If everyone drives Neons or Corollas, the world is much safer than if everyone drives Yukons.

There's more. Truck owners sometimes get them to have a better "command" of the road. Their better view prevents other people from seeing. Rather arrogant and hostile, but that's what American society values now. So if you think people are rude, and you have a pickup, you're getting your just desserts.

Trucks do not conform to the same rules as cars, so their bumpers are not in the same place. All cars sold in the US must have their bumpers at the same height to minimize collision damage. Get hit by a truck and your car is in the body shop, instead of making a quick trip to the junkyard for a new bumper.

 Finally, trucks get about 20 mpg on average, while cars get around 27.5 mpg on average. Consider that nearly half of all vehciles sold in the US are trucks, and think about what that does to our oil consumption. Makes us very dependent on foreign sources, doesn't it? Now think about our air. Kinda makes it more filled with pollution, right? Trucks do not have to conform to the same stringent air pollution rules as cars, making it worse. Call me a tree-hugger, but I do like clean air as much as the next person. I also like to drive, and I need gasoline to do it.