I've heard that the top vehicle being turned in under "Cash for Clunkers" is the Ford Explorer. Keith Bradsher's 2002 book "The High and Mighty" described the inherent dangers of the SUV design at that time. (The early Explorer was especially unstable and prone to roll-overs.) He noted that the fatality rates for SUV's then were not very high, but that was because most were then owned by upper income family people who generally were careful drivers and had few accidents.

He noted that as suspension parts wear, the SUV's became even less stable and more dangerous, both for the occupants and other people on the road. His concern was that older used vehicles would be passed down to younger drivers and lower income people, who generally have less experience, more accidents, and don't have the money to properly maintain these monsters.

I still hate the current crop of SUV's for many other reasons, but there has been substantial improvements on vehicle stability.

Getting these early SUV's off the road could save many lives. My question, was this intended or is it a wonderful unintended consequence?

I think the potential for lives saved makes this program worth every penny.