Thread by @schlthss

While stopped at a traffic light in Santa Monica, I noticed this fearsome looking machine with a loud muffler behind us. A mile later the dude raced past me blowing “coal” into my open car window.

I’m sure they were coming home from a long day working at the urban farm in Los Angeles or transporting the 10,000 pounds of heavy tools to the job site.

But of course, that’s ridiculous. The real purpose of this mean machine was evidenced by the aggressive driving I observed from this guy along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s clear the owner wants to feel powerful and intimidating for his daily commute into the big city.

I had great talk with car sales rep (after he realized I was fun, not buying). He told me he moved to car dependent suburbia because it’s “like shooting fish in a barrel.” On the other hand, he missed living in a transit friendly city because driving in LA region was hellacious.

He was like here in suburbia, the kids come inton the car lot the second they turn 16. The dealer gives great financing deals to them to hook em early into a lifetime of loyalty. Since this area has wealth, many kids get expensive cars. The boys love the trucks.

This truck costs $71,000. The jacked up chassis and nice wheels are $10,000. He said people just eat it up. They love “the look” and don’t care about the extra cost.

It really struck me that in “green, environmentally progressive” California, that this oversized vehicle was exempted by @USDOT and @EPA from having to report fuel economy & environmental impact. Also pathetic that it gets 5 STAR “safety rating” from @NHTSAgov for frontal crashes

This video helps you understand how @NHTSAgov evaluates “safety” - it’s really only from one point of view. 5 STARS for irresponsible truck design turns cars it hits into 1 STAR death traps. this is an irresponsible & incomplete safety rating. Thanks for video link @lloydalter!

foolish safety ratings help set up the bigger vehicle arms race of mutually assured destruction “to keep your family safe” - those suckers in the small cars deserve their fate.

This cycle continues with @Ford dropping small cars from their lineup to sell what the public wants and to pump up profits with bigger SUVs to protect your family and feel ford tough.

I love our country, but I’ve always been struck by how much we have accepted and allowed the auto companies to wrap themselves in the largest 🇺🇸 flag they can find - -> to co-opt the flag, patriotism and love of country to sell vehicles designed to kill Americans

I am appreciative of the fact @IIHS_autosafety is finally starting to study and identify the obvious fact we have a large number of vehicles that are contributing to the unnecessary deaths of people. Thanks to @schmangee for covering

So while the car companies wrap themselves in 🇺🇸 patriotism to sell cars, they clearly accept no responsibility for marketing aggressive and distracted driving while selling vehicles they know increase the number of people killed. How is that patriotic?

Just a few thoughts I had as I drove around a wealthy suburban community looking for an authentic Main Street or restaurant. I gave up because they didn’t exist so I settled for a conversation with a car salesman after a crappy In-N-Out burger meal. But I got to see #AirForceOne