I understand that when virtually everyone else is driving an urban tank that others will feel a need to do likewise, it will 'feel' safer if you're up there at a higher level with the other drivers.
However, given the erratic driving in Qatar, driving a 4x4 is actually *more* not less dangerous:
"ยท The higher centre of gravity has been found in the past to make 4x4s more prone to rollover crashes (especially in emergency manoeuvres) [9]."
Generally, according to that website, 4x4s are more dangerous to pedestrians (who are more likely to be killed if hit by a 4x4 instead of a regular car), they are more dangerous to other drivers (because if you hit someone else they are more likely to be seriously injured or to die if you hit someone else's car with a 4x4), they are more dangerous to you (i.e. if you are a pedestrian, or if your car is hit by a 4x4), and they are more dangerous to you because of the rollover risk.
[Source: from the same "4x4s The Risks" article linked to above]
If, due to other idiots on the road, you find yourself having to swerve out of someone's way, you are more likely to rollover in a 4x4 than in a regular car.
"...Although SUVs are designed to be driven off the road and roll, very few have rollbars. And to make matters worse, few SUVs meet the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration roof safety standards for automobiles [as weak as those standards are]. The chief hazard occurs when taking emergency action, such as sudden tire tread separation, after steering in one direction and then being forced to rapidly correct in the opposite direction. The result is a rollover. Rollover occurs because of the absence of a lower center of gravity and a wider track width, which allows automobiles to skid, spin and recover. But when taking a common evasive maneuver that car drivers safety complete every day, rapidly corrective action causes SUVs to trip and roll...
"The failure of the roof of the Mitsubishi Pajero, Montero and/or Shogun involved in a 'roll over' accident is the most likely cause of death or permanent injury to the vehicle occupants. The roof is the least crashworthy part of these vehicle. In fact, roofs on most Suv's are often so 'fragile' that when 'test dropped' upside-down for a fall of 12 inches, the result is frequently a 'total roof crush' that in a 'real life' accident is the primary cause of death, permanent brain and spinal cord injuries."
I understand that when virtually everyone else is driving an urban tank that others will feel a need to do likewise, it will 'feel' safer if you're up there at a higher level with the other drivers.
However, given the erratic driving in Qatar, driving a 4x4 is actually *more* not less dangerous:
"ยท The higher centre of gravity has been found in the past to make 4x4s more prone to rollover crashes (especially in emergency manoeuvres) [9]."
[source: http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=267
Brake - a UK road safety charity]
Generally, according to that website, 4x4s are more dangerous to pedestrians (who are more likely to be killed if hit by a 4x4 instead of a regular car), they are more dangerous to other drivers (because if you hit someone else they are more likely to be seriously injured or to die if you hit someone else's car with a 4x4), they are more dangerous to you (i.e. if you are a pedestrian, or if your car is hit by a 4x4), and they are more dangerous to you because of the rollover risk.
[Source: from the same "4x4s The Risks" article linked to above]
If, due to other idiots on the road, you find yourself having to swerve out of someone's way, you are more likely to rollover in a 4x4 than in a regular car.
"...Although SUVs are designed to be driven off the road and roll, very few have rollbars. And to make matters worse, few SUVs meet the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration roof safety standards for automobiles [as weak as those standards are]. The chief hazard occurs when taking emergency action, such as sudden tire tread separation, after steering in one direction and then being forced to rapidly correct in the opposite direction. The result is a rollover. Rollover occurs because of the absence of a lower center of gravity and a wider track width, which allows automobiles to skid, spin and recover. But when taking a common evasive maneuver that car drivers safety complete every day, rapidly corrective action causes SUVs to trip and roll...
"The failure of the roof of the Mitsubishi Pajero, Montero and/or Shogun involved in a 'roll over' accident is the most likely cause of death or permanent injury to the vehicle occupants. The roof is the least crashworthy part of these vehicle. In fact, roofs on most Suv's are often so 'fragile' that when 'test dropped' upside-down for a fall of 12 inches, the result is frequently a 'total roof crush' that in a 'real life' accident is the primary cause of death, permanent brain and spinal cord injuries."
[Source: http://www.rolloverlawyer.com/suv_rollovers/mitsubishi_pajero.htm ]
That site is RolloverLawyer.com - an American lawyer/law firm that appears to do good business on SUV/4x4 rollover lawsuits.
If you drive a 4x4, try Googling your own car, e.g. Pajero +rollover