Fat Guy in a Little.....Car....

So, law enforcement is concerned with texting and driving, talking and driving, drinking and driving, and with all forms of distracted driving. These are all valid concerns and should be taken seriously. However, I think it's time someone called attention to another dangerous trend that's been flying (or, in this case, driving) under the radar for far too long. I'm not sure of the technical term, or if there is one yet, but it has to do with people driving the wrong sized vehicles for their bodies.

Yup! You read that correctly! Lately, I have noticed a ridiculous amount of large people jammed into compact vehicles such as PT Cruisers, Volkswagen Beetles, and Smart Cars, while, on the other hand, I have noticed many small people (barely) peering over the dashboards of Escalades, F-150's, and other SUVs. What is going on with this?

First of all, it's hilarious. I love seeing a short man pulling himself up into the seat of a large truck using all of his upper body strength. And then, 9 times out of 10, he gets on the road and starts driving like a complete a-hole, further proving he is suffering from a debilitating case of the Napoleon complex. And tiny little women driving huge SUVs?? Come on ladies! Do you actually want to give the dreaded, "Damn women drivers!" insult validity? Because you're doing a good job when you're behind the wheel of a vehicle that you can barely navigate without sitting on a few phone books while pulling all sorts of muscles as you strain to reach the brake pedal.

On the other end of the spectrum, and possibly even funnier are the large people who pour themselves into tiny cars. I kid you not- I'm leaving the gym the other day, and this large(tall and just all around big) man is leaving at the same time. He is shimmying his very large frame into a PT Cruiser. Ok, so once he finally gets in there, I'm wondering: 1. How is he getting out?, 2. If there's an accident and the airbag deploys, will he be decapitated?, and 3. Is he bald because his head is constantly rubbing against the roof of the car as he drives? I've been noticing this particular scenario more and more lately. Maybe it's because people are being more cost conscious and trying to use less gas....but they are forgetting a nice Honda Accord or Toyota Camry would allow very respectable MPG numbers while giving them room to move around while avoiding the risk of having their circulation cut off by a seat belt that fits more like a vice than a safety harness.

Just a quick little post to address this concern. I think the drivers in both cases are missing the point; to look smaller, get a larger vehicle...and to look bigger, get a smaller vehicle. It's kind of  like with clothing; if you want to look smaller, you're not going with the big, loud prints.....

By the way, am I the only person who thinks of this clip when seeing these types of situations?




P.S. People who drive "Smart" Cars should be exiled from all major roadways, but that's another topic for a future post.

-KC Jones