I am not sure where this cartoon came from but it inspired this post.
I recently learnt about trucks, lorries if you like, world wide. Flat faced trucks are the standard in the UK and Europe. The driver has good visibility in front of them.
American trucks have a big engine sticking out in front of the cab and very poor visibility immediately in front of the driver's cab. With advent of cameras, radar and auto braking, this is probably not a huge issue now with new American trucks but it certainly was in the past when the drivers couldn't see immediately in front of them.
As Australia does, at times in picks up on the best from overseas, and the worst. We have a mix of both types of trucks but our inland long distance trucks are certainly like the one above. But we do also have long European style trucks.
On our outback roads, this style dominates.
GM is the US has made some horribly aggressive looking SUVs.
Now Japan has taken on the look, as you can in my parking garage. What is making cars look aggressive all about? We already know they are killing machines. Now they are looking more the part of a killing machine.
There's a whole lot more of these aggressive looking cars than these two in the car park.
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There's so many of those big massive cars here, I don't know how people can drive safely in them, it's crazy.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Andrew!
ReplyDeleteThey are made to look aggressive so the idiot driving them feels tough and manly, "look at me, I am able to handle this giant machine though I may be only 5'3" and weigh 125 pounds"
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand spotting these giant things is easy so pedestrians should have no trouble staying out of their way. Unless they speed around a blind corner or run a red light.
I drive the smallest car in this wide, brown nation, but that is my problem. The truck drivers wouldn't even see me, beetling along.
ReplyDeleteTo large are many and they don't necessarily fit in the parking spaces. They are rather ugly to me when too big.
ReplyDeleteIt's a manifestation of aggressive capitalist individuality: "I am buying the biggest, most comfortable car I can afford and I don't care about anyone else."
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is so obsessed with trucks
ReplyDeleteModern cars are so ugly. Electric cars don't need radiator grills, but the designers like the look of them!
ReplyDeleteJB, that never occurred to me and you are correct. There is no need for a radiator grill.
DeleteI want to shout at pedestrians crossing in front of me while intently engaged with their phone, to ALWAYS MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER. If you can see the drivers eyes, they can see you. If you can't see their eyes, or they are not looking at you, you are in danger. Just because you have the right of way, does not mean you are safe. My father described that as "dead right!" Some of the things he said stick with me 50 plus years later.
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a motorhome when I was a teenager and it had the flat front. It was strange driving it because you're right there at the roadway!
ReplyDeleteThose aggressive suvs look so fierce and scary, My little car looks helpless beside them, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteHere, we have a pithy saying: 'the bigger the truck, the smaller the genitalia'. (Or words to that effect.)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you that I am still alive but still have troubles to get into my Dashboard, now I have got a link to just a template, I think I have to make a break !
ReplyDeleteLittle cars usually look perky, like comic characters compared to these nasty guys.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when I go out to the parking lot and find my compact wedged between two SUVs. I have to pull out very slowly since I'm basically blind most of the way.
ReplyDeleteMy old car is very awesome. I feel like I'm in a huge truck when I'm driving it but in reality its shorter than I am. HUGE windshield, short small out front. I can see everything. I've noticed too the aggressive front panels on cars, trucks and SUV's these days and wonder why we would need more aggression than we already have in our society.
ReplyDeleteI rather like some of the aggressive looking styles. lol There are a fair number of flat fronted semi tractor trailers on our roads. What is that interesting cargo being transported through the outback?
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