What we always suspected - 4WD drivers obese, conservative: study

pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616

4WD drivers obese, conservative: study
Tuesday Sep 27 00:00 AEST
Forget the fit, rugged, 30-something-year-old navigating flood plains and
climbing mountains in the snazzy 4WDs as depicted in the commercials. The
reality is, drivers of the suburban monsters are often obese, aggressive,
intolerant and aged in their 40s or 50s.

A new study has found that city owners of large four-wheel-drive vehicles
are less community minded than other drivers, less charitable, more likely
to be homophobic and have a low opinion of indigenous culture. The Australia
Institute study has also found they are more likely to use force to get
their way.

Based on a Roy Morgan Research survey in 2003-04 of 24,718 people aged 14
and over, the study found the typical city driver of a large 4WD is a male
in his forties or fifties in full-time work with a higher than average
income.

The 4WDS are also far more likely than conventional vehicles to kill or maim
other road users, they are less fuel efficient and they are resented by
other road users. Two thirds of their drivers in the city are overweight or
obese. They also had a lower regard for the welfare system than the general
population.

"While over half (57 per cent) of all Australians agree it is the
government's duty to support those who cannot find work, only 42 per cent of
city drivers of large 4WDs concur," the report's authors, Clive Hamilton and
Claire Barbato, said.

"These drivers tend to see themselves as rugged individualists who like
physical activity. Perhaps with implications for how they drive, they are
more inclined to say they sometimes use force to get their way," the authors
said.

The authors also say 4WDs are marketed as bold, tough, powerful and made for
rugged terrain, while the daily reality is that most are driven between
school, work and shops in metropolitan areas. The survey counted only city
drivers of 4WDs, where over half of the vehicles are owned.

However, drivers of luxury 4WDs are very different. They are more likely to
be female, in their 30s and 40s, and are more materialistic than other
Australians.

"This group is more than twice as likely as the general population to say,
`I was born to shop' (33 per cent)," the authors said. "And two thirds (65
per cent) say they would normally buy their favourite brand regardless of
price, compared with 43 per cent of the population." They also watch their
weight, and are less likely to be obese than the general population. Monash
University research indicates 4WDs are far more likely than conventional
vehicles to kill or maim other road users.

Dr Hamilton said the vehicles are also less fuel efficient and are resented
by other road users. He said special licences and higher taxes should be
imposed on 4WD owners.

"Jimbo Jones" wrote in message
...
pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616

4WD drivers obese, conservative: study
Tuesday Sep 27 00:00 AEST
Forget the fit, rugged, 30-something-year-old navigating flood plains and
schnip
far more likely than conventional
vehicles to kill or maim other road users.

Dr Hamilton said the vehicles are also less fuel efficient and are
resented
by other road users. He said special licences and higher taxes should be
imposed on 4WD owners.

Doesn't sound like particularly unbiased research, but still makes for
interesting reading. I don't think it surprised many here though.

Resound Wrote:
"Jimbo Jones" wrote in message
...
pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616

4WD drivers obese, conservative: study
Tuesday Sep 27 00:00 AEST
Forget the fit, rugged, 30-something-year-old navigating flood plains
and
schnip
far more likely than conventional
vehicles to kill or maim other road users.

Dr Hamilton said the vehicles are also less fuel efficient and are
resented
by other road users. He said special licences and higher taxes should
be
imposed on 4WD owners.

Doesn't sound like particularly unbiased research, but still makes for
interesting reading. I don't think it surprised many here though.
I read the article as well... had a great laugh reading it..... there
was a good page of stuff in the hearldsun this morning as well, all
about cycling to save money, increase fitness and Q/A on reason why
people dont ride... promotional stuff for the upcoming ride to work
day.....

but certainly a lot more of it appearing day by day


--
MikeyOz

Resound Wrote:


Doesn't sound like particularly unbiased research, but still makes for
interesting reading. I don't think it surprised many here though.

yers. just like all the anti-cycling ****e we see but different
wording.
Albeit 'some' of it's true.
I can attest the prez of the 4Wd group (on 774am this morning) lives
around the corner from me and fits that stereotype physically to the
tee.

Anyone noticed how many 'soccerMoms' are missing at the moment due to
school holidays?


--
flyingdutch

Jimbo Jones wrote:
pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616



[chomp]

gross generalisation

city 4wd drivers say "**** the world, I can afford this, you're
just jealous"

/gross generalisation

Bleve wrote:

Jimbo Jones wrote:
pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616


[chomp]

gross generalisation

city 4wd drivers say "**** the world, I can afford this, you're
just jealous"

/gross generalisation

Whereas to me they just say, "I bought this car to show how rich I am,
but now I'm too poor to buy a second car for city use, so I use this one
everywhere, like a dickhead," or maybe, "I can afford the car but not
the lifestyle, so I drive this puppy in the city, like a dickhead,"
Yeah I think the like-a-dickhead bit is really important.

Tam

"dtmeister" wrote in message
u...
Jimbo Jones wrote:
pure gold...

jimbo

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616

This thread should be interesting

http://tinyurl.com/dwl7d

Oh you troll *grins*

[url Wrote:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=64616[/url]


Also in todays Townsville Bulletin. Bit of a giggle but cant really
take it as serious research.
SO many 4WD here, would skew the stats so much as to be useless.

Still "on guard" to a higher degree when a 4WD enters the traffic mix
thou.

Cheers
Hugh

News: something that someone, somewhere, doesnt want anyone else to
know.


--
HughMann

HughMann Wrote:
Also in todays Townsville Bulletin. Bit of a giggle but cant really
take it as serious research.
SO many 4WD here, would skew the stats so much as to be useless.

Still "on guard" to a higher degree when a 4WD enters the traffic mix
thou.

Cheers
Hugh

News: something that someone, somewhere, doesnt want anyone else to
know.

Should have heard the angry pants 4wd drivers ringing into MMM last
night while the spoonman berated them for being selfish and
compensating for being lacking in the trouser department!


--
PiledHigher