Americans favor clean SUVs, survey shows

On average, sport utility vehicles guzzle substantially more gas and emit more pollutants than passenger cars

June 8, 1999
Web posted at: 11:30 AM EDT

Americans strongly favor placing stronger air pollution standards on sport utility vehicles, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Lung Association. The survey also reveals that Americans are willing to pay 2 cents a gallon more for cleaner gasoline.

Results of the survey were gathered in time for a series of public hearings that the EPA is holding on proposals that would clean up gasoline and car standards. The hearings are scheduled June 9-10 in Philadelphia, June 11 in Atlanta, June 15 in Denver and June 17 in Cleveland.

One-hundred-and-seventeen million Americans live in areas with air that is unsafe due to smog pollution. Sport utility vehicles guzzle substantially more gas and emit more pollutants than passenger cars. Legally, they are allowed to pollute 2-5 times as much as cars.

SUVs, Minivans and light trucks are approaching 50 percent of all new passenger vehicle sales. But despite the fact that Americans are driving more sport utility vehicles, nearly nine out of 10 people surveyed agreed that car companies should be required to make sport utility vehicles meet the same strict air pollution standards as passenger cars.

"Even owners of SUVs and minivans agree their vehicles should meet the same strict standards as passenger cars," said Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates, who conducted the survey for the American Lung Association. The breakdown is 85 percent agree, including 69 percent strongly agree, for SUV owners and 83 percent agree, including 70 percent strongly agree for minivan owners.

"American voters overwhelmingly support the EPA clean air proposal," said Ernest P. Franck, president of the American Lung Association. "The survey shows strong public support for fairness. SUVs should have to follow the same air pollution rules as passenger cars. The public is demanding that EPA close the loophole that allows SUVs to pollute more."

"When car standards were originally adopted in 1975, not nearly as many SUVs were being used as passenger cars. Instead they were used as work vehicles," said American Lung Association spokesperson Norman Childs.

Franck noted that the auto industry is pushing to continue special SUV loopholes to avoid or postpone air pollution clean up. In addition, much of the oil industry opposes strong national clean gasoline standards and wants to allow dirtier, higher-sulfur gasoline, especially in the West. EPA experts predict the cleanup could cost oil companies 1 to 2 cents a gallon

Franck emphasized that removing most of the sulfur from gasoline is critical because it will make the operation of cars and other vehicles much cleaner. Sulfur impedes the performance of pollution control equipment.

The Lung Association survey found that 83 percent of respondents are willing to pay up to 2 cents more per gallon of gasoline if it would produce significantly less pollution. A majority of voters (51 percent) are willing to pay up to 5 cents more per gallon for cleaner gasoline.

American voters reject an oil industry proposal for a regional gasoline program," Franck added. "Eighty four percent of voters believe cleaner gasoline is needed across the country because it makes the air cleaner everywhere. Only nine percent believe cleaner gasoline should only be required in the Eastern half of the country and in California."

Results of the survey are based on a nationwide poll of 800 adults, 18 years of age or older, who are registered to vote, conducted between May 20-24, 1999, by Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates. The margin of error is plus/minus 3.5 percent.

Copyright 1999, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved