Saskatchewan sets sights on 'monster truck' ban

Canwest News Service
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Four-by-four truck drivers in Saskatchewan are furious over a decision by the provincial-government insurer that could ban their oversized trucks from the roads.

A newly implemented Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) policy targets "raised vehicles," whose owners buy oversized tires and "lift kits" designed to raise the trucks higher off the ground.

SGI's decision was based on studies showing the after-sale modifications may make the trucks more dangerous for drivers and others on the road, said officials with the Crown-owned insurance company.

"Reasonably raised vehicles have been permitted to operate on Saskatchewan highways, and will continue to be operated on Saskatchewan highways," said Brian Kline, SGI's manager of vehicle standards and inspection.

Four-by-four enthusiast Steve Inverarity says the American studies cited by SGI were inconclusive, and the policy itself casts too broad a net -- nabbing responsible truck owners along with a small minority of "monster truck" lovers.

There is alot of discussion going on in some of the SK forums that have more details on this subject.

SGI Policy Debate

My $0.02

I hate the big ass 4x4's operated by jackasses, who think they own the road, and use the size of their vehicles to intimidate smaller vehicles on the road. But, there are 4x4 operators out there who are responsible, and don't drive like assholes.

I have a 6" lift on my 2008 Tacoma, and after having a drunk purposely ram me, I argue SGI's point that "after-sale modifications may make the trucks more dangerous for drivers and others on the road".....My lift saved me for what could've been a serious injury.

SGI is a Crown Corporation that is run by the Government. The way they are changing things in the province, it's more like Communism. They are also in talks of bringing in "air care" which will be stricter than BC's.

How are they going to compensate for their small penis now?

^^

Too bad Alberta wont follow suit. Tastefully done lift-kits are nice...but if your headlights are lighting up the roof of my car...time to take it down a couple notches.

+1... id really really appreciate it if those drivers would take the time to lower the cut-off on their lights so they arent going right into my mirrors and my back window... its really blinding.

Fuck off

Good fucking luck with that one. The typical Saskatchewan roach coach is at least 25 years old and held together with duct tape and/or chicken wire.

What are they proposing? The rural commuters drive their cattle to the city and the urbanites ride bicycles when their vehicles are declared unfit polluters?

Buy a BMW?

awsome!!!

They are already on the radio today back-pedalling on the whole thing because the backlash has been biting them in the ass for putting forward a policy with no thought to actually researching it first. Now all of the sudden they need to review the whole thing and consult with groups etc.

You can buy stock vehicles with a larger tire/wheel diameter than they were allowing as legal under their policy. Fucking idiots.

There is a serious safety issue though. I can't remember if it was 60 Minutes but one US show did a story on how raised trucks would turn a simple rear ender into a fatality due to the car's hood going right under the truck bumper and essentially decapitating the driver and passenger. There were enough cases of this for the governments to take a serious look.

IMO there's absolutely no reason a lifted truck should be used as a daily driver as it diminishes handling and is a potential hazard for drivers of cars. If you really use it off-road it should be treated as a recreational vehicle and not a normal street vehicle.

Also IMO they look ridiculous and nothing screams; "I'm redneck and have a small penis" than a big lifted truck lol.

^

Oh I don't like big lifts anymore than the next guy, I agree with you on that. My beef with SGI is the "as per usual" complete lack of foresight when they decide to do something. They push it through and tell people about it after it's already in effect but they don't actually research it at all? Stupid as per usual.

You just going to go down to the old dodge dealership and tell them the trucks on their sales lot can't be sold because SGI randomly decided the tire/wheel diameter is too big? I mean seriously, how dumb are they? The head of the auto-fund was on talk radio here 20 minutes ago acknowledging that oh "I guess we didn't really look into that closely enough....".

That's why I say fucking idiots.

Now you can hate on all 4x4'ers because there are some dicks out there, just like you can't hate on all sport compact owners because they have have some dicks driving them as well.

Just because a truck is lifted does not make it necessarly unsafe. Driving a lifted truck like a douche makes it unsafe, just like driving a highly modfied compact like a douche is unsafe, but to pull all legitimate owner/drivers off the road is lunacy...

It's got nothing to do with the drivers, how legitimate, how well they drive. If the bumper is 5" off the ground it's not really a bumper anymore and there's a reason we have bumpers. The reason a lift kit is installed is to be used off road not to be used on the street. Really what's the point of having a big lift if you are just using the truck as a daily driven street vehicle? Pretty simple if you ask me.

What's the point in installing a set of lightweight 18s, a super stiff coilover suspension, a nice turbo kit, and racing seats if it is a daily driven street vehicle?
People modify their vehicles. Deal with it.

Personally I don't car what anyone does with their vehicles as long as it's not going to compromise safety of others. Oh and I don't have to deal with it because I don't drive a lifted vehicle. Don't think this won't make its way into Alberta.

So if someone greatly reduces their vehicle's ground clearance (increasing the likelihood of unpredictable and sudden braking to slow down for potholes and speedbumps, erratic movements to avoid potholes, etc) or puts on tires that get poor traction in wet or cold conditions, they aren't compromising the safety of others? When I was saying "deal with it" I meant "deal with these lifted trucks" which means "use defensive driving and don't crash into them"
As far as the redneck small penis thing goes, that's ignorant stereotyping and really, who cares what you think?

Originally posted by b_t


So if someone greatly reduces their vehicle's ground clearance (increasing the likelihood of unpredictable and sudden braking to slow down for potholes and speedbumps, erratic movements to avoid potholes, etc) or puts on tires that get poor traction in wet or cold conditions, they aren't compromising the safety of others? When I was saying "deal with it" I meant "deal with these lifted trucks" which means "use defensive driving and don't crash into them"
As far as the redneck small penis thing goes, that's ignorant stereotyping and really, who cares what you think?

What I drive: '07 Tacoma



no wonder he is getting so angry.




I welcome this, reminds me of that 24' lift thread