Huge problem with Dodge Ram, Ford F150 and Toyota Tundra
A road safety expert has issued a warning as an influx of American-style pickup trucks is gaining popularity across Australia.
Sales of huge cars like the Dodge Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado are soaring and now other automakers are taking notice of the trend.
Ford is importing the larger F-150 pickup, converted to right-hand drive, with supplies arriving at dealers later this year.
Toyota is also bringing down its massive Tundra, with the model officially launching next year.
According to carsales.com editor-in-chief Mike Sinclair, this increase in sales is predicted to boom as more US-sized models become available in Australia.
Aussies comically call out oversized American cars that are becoming increasingly popular and won’t fit in standard parking garages
The influx of American cars has started a new trend, with people snapping the worst parking examples: “Is it a competition to take up as many spaces as possible?”
“Guaranteed left-to-right conversions have definitely sparked interest,” Sinclair told Daily Mail Australia.
“Another part of the appeal is that they are large with a greater towing capacity, although they are not as much fun to park.”
While there is no hard data indicating who is buying the utes, Mr Sinclair said when they are seen on the road their finish suggests many are not used by tradies.
“I don’t see many fully equipped like traditional vehicles,” he said.
“You only have to look at their specification and high level of finish to suggest there are other reasons to buy them.”
Russell White, CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation warns that these vehicles have a larger blind spot.
“The larger these types of vehicles are, the greater the risk of blind spots being large enough to hide vulnerable road users, so things like forward-facing cameras should definitely be part of the overall safety envelope,” Mr White said.
The huge Toyota Tundra will soon be available in Australia
“Just as we’ve seen with backup cameras, this is another tool a driver can have so they have the information they need to control the vehicle.
“As they become more popular and there are more, we may see more incidents on the road unless something is done to look at their safety rating to develop them over time.”
However, many Aussies are also calling for a complete ban on the vehicles.
“I cringe when I see Australians driving this u-haul in a **looking, American designed, offset something trucks,” someone said.
“These vehicles make me irrationally angry. I can’t fathom the type of t*rd who buys these,” added another.
“They’re no better at anything than more reasonable classic cars. They are totally impractical. They put the middle finger to the planet. I hate them so much.’
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Safety concerns have been raised around the mega cars over their suitability for Australian roads with their sheer size and dangerous blind spots
Many owners of the utes have been vilified for occupying multiple parking garages.
“This isn’t about practicality, it’s just about saying a big aggressive fuck you to everyone else,” said another, pointing out that these vehicles were “bigger than the Australian standard parking lots designed to accommodate the largest 4WDs. or a small van from about 2004′.
Another said, “This country was not built to fit big American cars.”
“Unless you really need to (Ford F150), you’re making life worse for those driving around you and parked next to you,” he said.
“Don’t let the vanity culture of unnecessarily big cars from the US take over here, just like tipping is trying to.”
A number of people expressed concerns about the safety of the vehicles.
“The height is just as dangerous,” one user wrote.
“You get hit by an average-sized car and you sustain some injuries to the lower extremities and maybe the pelvis (I’m being overly simplistic here, too, by the way).
“These American trucks are much higher and are going to destroy your torso and head and your chance of survival just plummets.”
‘Because of their height, pedestrians are more likely to have a head collision. This combined with poor visibility means they pose a threat on the street. The number of pedestrian deaths in the US is at its highest level in 40 years,” they wrote.