Untitled

Monday January 26th 2004 01:55 AM PST

My Contribution to FUH2.com

I was doing a little thinking. The H2 gets by certain EPA restrictions and actually gets a tax break due to its weight (which allows it to be classified as farm equipment?). I am really uncertain of the accuracy of these claims, but i do know this. This thing has a incredibly bad fuel efficiency, and, because of its weight, its sure to kill me if one were to ever impact me and my Honda Civic at a decent speed. I know the people that buy this "SUV" are very impressed by its design and "safety" ratings, blah blah blah blah... i really don't care. I think this one is plain and simple. This vehicle is bad for the environment, and is a safety hazard to others on the road. So here are the FACTS as noted by the hummer site. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the H2 is 8,600 pounds. This included EVERYTHING, passengers and all. The CURB WEIGHT is 6,400 pounds. So empty, with no passengers, no fuel, no payload this vehicle weighs over 3 tons.

So i think i've found a little loophole that the environmentally conscious people of California might be able to use to fight back with. In South Pasadena, the gross maximum weight restriction for non-truck route streets is 6,000 pounds. This weight restriction in most cases has been created because of the "significant surface damage which is likely to result from heavy truck traffic and vehicle weights far in excess of those considered for roadway design" as stated by a City of South Pasadena Document i found. Its a basic principle. Roads that are required to hold a certain weight of traffic are constructed from materials that will withstand those weights. Places such as bus stops are reinforced because of their repeated exposure to "traffic impact".

I've spent a little time trying to find cities in California that impose weight restrictions on city streets. I've found a handful that have the 6,000 pound limitation. There is some interesting city municipal code out there. I believe there is a clear message set up by the cities, and it might just need to be enforced.

Don't take my word for it. Do a little research on this, i really do want to hear what people think.

Comments:

"Most sport utility vehicles now fall under the classification of light trucks, although they are used primarily as passenger vehicles. Heavier vehicles, such as the Hummer H2, weigh more than 8,500 pounds and are exempt from fuel standards." link

Posted by: Yams

Oh man, I want to see that episode on COPS... Ma'am - you have deverted from the designated truck route and your H2 is over weight for this road. ..... No, you can't pick your children up at school, unless their school is on a truck route. ..... Ma'am, you should have spent your money on two honda civics and saved us all the trouble in Iraq.

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