Those who know me know that I am not a big fan of SUVs. Clearly there are some people who legitimately need such a vehicle. But I am willing to bet good money that the vast majority of Americans who buy SUVs do so for materialistic and superficial image or status reasons. In fact, it amazes me why so many people are willing to pay more money than a comparable minivan, station wagon, or sedan just to buy a vehicle that is slower, brakes worse, handles worse, gets atrocious fuel economy, is more expensive to insure and maintain, and is more dangerous.

That’s right, contrary to many people’s assumptions that SUVs are safer than other vehicles, as reported by news organizations such as CBS News, a new independent study confirms that because SUVs are more likely to roll over in accidents, that overrides whatever advantages they may enjoy because of their size (a dubious claim anyway since SUVs don’t have to meet the same safety requirements that cars have to meet) and ultimately makes them less safe for children:

Children are no safer riding in sport utility vehicles than in passenger cars, largely because the doubled risk of rollovers in SUVs cancels out the safety advantages of their greater size and weight, according to a study. Researchers said the findings dispel the bigger-equals-safer myth that has helped fuel the growing popularity of SUVs among families.

SUVs supporters just lost another key part of their argument as to why people should buy SUVs over other comparable vehicles. As the title of this post says, this is just another reason why SUVs suck.