Too many 4x4s for a little island

Thursday 22nd January 2009, 3:00PM GMT.

From Katya Lightbody.
HAVING just returned from a trip to town with my eight-month-old baby, I feel compelled to write about what I term the ‘X5 culture’ over here.

We have a normal-sized hatchback car, in which I manage to fit my shopping and all the necessary items that travel with a baby. When I became pregnant, I did not go out instantly to buy a 4×4 vehicle for my baby – due to the small roads in Jersey, the lack of mileage that we cover and, most importantly, the environmental impact that these gas- guzzling vehicles have.

Today, when I got back to my well-parked car in Sand Street car park (I always check I’m not encroaching on another space), I was actually physically unable to get into my driver’s door. No, I am not one of the obese statistics; an X5 was parked diagonally across its space, preventing me from opening my door to get in. I had to climb over the passenger’s seat. I will not even begin to explain how I managed to get my pram, let alone, my baby into the car.

I wonder how many 4x4s and people carriers this small Island can accommodate? If people really must drive these ridiculous sized vehicles, please could they at least have the courtesy to spare a thought for others and park them properly?
Oak View,
Rue de la Fontaine St Martin,
St Lawrence.

1
ann

January 22, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Drivers of 4×4 vehicles feel quite superior to the rest of us and of course require extra space whilst parking.

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2
JP

January 22, 2009 at 4:22 pm

The problem is with some of these drivers is that they have the ‘might is right’ mentality that you will find in places like India. Whereby the bigger the vehicle the more right of way you deserve, but then again the standard of driving is a disgrace over here anyway regardless of vehicle.

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3
Diane

January 22, 2009 at 8:16 pm

A large number of 4×4 vehicles are driven by people who, like me, prefer the elevated driving position, the engine power, the comfort etc., – dependent on make and model of course – (although I will hasten to add that I don’t actually own one of them – at the moment!) and you cannot argue that this sort of vehicle is fast becoming a necessity because of the wonderful state of Jersey’s roads!
However, correspondents Ann and JP seem to be missing the fact that the majority of 4×4′s at the moment on Jersey roads seem to be being driven by “mothers”. They can’t possibly bend down to put little Johnny into the baby seat so they get hubby to buy them a nice big 4×4. They have little ability to drive the thing which is why so many are badly parked and rather scuffed around the bumpers, and when they are driving spend more time facing back, talking to baby them looking at the road.

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4
Billy

January 22, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Sorry, I tend to disagree here. I drive a 4×4 diesel which is not a gas guzzler as my mileage is far more economical than alot of petrol cars I could mention. My point is why are all 4×4′s labelled as gas guzzlers? Why dont we mention the likes of a Jaguar XKR with its 5.0 litre V8 engine (not a 4×4). A gas guzzler? Yes.
As for the parking issue, I have seen countless cars of various types parked erratically. In my opinion, it is more down to the drivers parking ability then the car itself.

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5
R B Bougourd

January 22, 2009 at 10:52 pm

If you drive an X5 in the UK you’re nobody unless
your registration number has got an X and a 5 in it.

What a pity Jersey vanity plates don’t help these egotists.

If some manufacturer brought out a 4X4 called a
JSY just imagine the revenue…

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6
Mike

January 23, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Ban all future sales and use of 4x4s in Jersey end of problem!!! They simply are not nessasary in our Island, used mainly by posers!!

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7
Mark G

January 23, 2009 at 5:38 pm

4×4′s are the bain of my life.

Ban them except for business use.

Jersey is just to small an island to be over run with them.

I agree with Dianne that the majority are mothers with little Tobby and the pouch.

Oh and dont you just hate it when you come head to head with a 4×4 that has cut the corner!!

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8
Normandy Norman

January 24, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Hey, I was blocked in by a Mini today… We’d better ban all Minis as a result…. Do get a life. If this is all you have to moan about…

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9
R B Bougourd

January 24, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Ban 4X4s except for business use, eh Mark?

You will see a sudden increase in businesses being registered.

Perhaps that’s what you want. Maybe you are in businss or in the business creation business.

I bet that a fair number of gas guzzlers are company cars being paid for by us mugs otherwise known as customers and the GST being reclaimed (assuming it works the same way as VAT – and if it doesn’t yet I’m sure they will change it soon in order to get the business community on side. Just like allowing red diesel to be used in gas guzzling leisure boats).

By the way, cutting corners is not confined to
4X4s. It’s a way of life in Jersey. They learn
how to do it by watching the traffic turning right at the lights down by the tennis courts.

Have a look next time you are down there. It gives me the creeps.

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10
Thomas Edison

January 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm

If ever there was a place to outlaw the internal combustion engine it must be Jersey. Is it not about time the States bit the bullet and enforced the introduction of electic cars. No noise, no pollution, wonderful.

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11
DRS

February 2, 2009 at 10:34 pm

There are bad drivers whatever the car. If the focus is on being green, then it does not make sense to pick on economical diesel 4x4s, try picking on large gas guzzlers such as Jags, Porsches, Masseratis, Bentleys, or any old car that chucks out plumes of smoke. Get real.

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