I saw a 60 Minutes show where they profiled this French guy who was trained as an anthropologist but now lives in the U.S. as a high-price consultant to help companies develop ad campaigns by analyzing people's perceptions about certain products. One of the interesting things they said in the show was that this guy, through working with a lot of focus groups and such, has reduced the most important feeling Americans have about SUV's: These cars are not about speed, security, roominess, carrying capacity, etc. It's about power, and not just any power, but domination! They were specifically talking about the Hummer, but I think that "primal code" is there behind many people's gut feelings about owning SUV's.

I don't want to generalize about any one group of people, but a lot of what this French guy said struck me as accurate. I've seen a lot of SUV drivers who when going by just have to rev their engines, pass you a little too closely, or simply can't resist letting you know they're faster and more powerful than you are. It's like the car can flip a switch in people so they have to engage in a p*ssing contest with you.

That said, I've been sideswiped and almost run over several times by a*holes driving very tame-looking 4-door sedans, so I think the SUV-theory only goes so far. When people are cyclist-hating a*holes, it doesn't matter what they drive, they can be inching along in a golf cart and still try to run you over.

Be safe, everyone!

-Kevin