SUV Dangers

* The editorial “Life-and-Death Choices” (Valley Perspective, Nov. 26), includes, “Then they get into their 3-ton sport-utility vehicles and go barreling down wide Valley street like there’s no tomorrow.” On the same page is a letter (“Time and Topanga”), which includes, “As I slowed for the red light in the right lane, a motorist (in a sport-utility vehicle, naturally) passed at high speed, swerved into my lane and slammed on his brakes to be first in line to enter the freeway.”

It seems that driving an SUV gives one the right and the power to be very aggressive. But aside from this, there is an SUV danger that must be dealt with. Because the SUV is tall, its headlights blind oncoming drivers. If one is driving in front of the SUV, its lights hit hard in the rear and side view mirrors and blind from the rear.

I don’t believe that there is any way to reverse the popularity of these monsters. However, the blinding headlights can and must be dealt with. It is time for laws that will set standards for headlight beams.

DAVID SAXON

Sherman Oaks