Yesterday's FarmOnline article saying farmers have rejected calls for 4WDs to be banned from city and suburban roads has sparked extensive, lively debate among our subscribers.
The article, published under the heading Farmers reject calls for 4WD ban, reported on a survey conducted by McCrindle Research on attitudes to driving in Australia.
We have published 22 of these comments underneath the original article.
The McCrindle Research has found that three in five Australians are against 4WDs and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) being used for regular driving.
Respondents to the survey called for 4WD's to be forced away from schools and only used out of town "where they belong".
Concerns included that the large vehicles had numerous blind spots and were a danger to pedestrians and other road users. Four-wheel drives were also branded environmentally irresponsible.
However, rural group AgForce said banning four-wheel drives from the city would disadvantage those who have a genuine need to drive off-road vehicles.
Four wheel drives are absolutely essential for country people because they are robust, reliable and safer when driving on a rural road network that is often in need of upgrading.
AgForce president John Cotter said given the decline in road infrastructure, it is arguable that 4WD vehicles are needed more than they ever were.
He said calls to ban 4WDs and SUVs for regular driving are unrealistic.
“Where would the line be drawn in regional cities such as Townsville or Toowoomba which are large rural service centres,” Mr Cotter asked.
“At a time like this with global economic turmoil, there are greater and more significant issues to deal with than this.
“The fact is that 4WDs will outlast conventional vehicles by three to one under similar driving conditions and that is what we need in the bush.”
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