European Vandals Drown Smart Cars: Anti-Eco Terrorism?

What is Smart Smijten? Smart Smijten is the act of tipping a SMART car (Smart Tipping).

Vandals in Europe have taken to tossing the lightweight Smart Car vehicles into rivers, canals, and lakes. One SMART dealer hoped that by staying relatively quiet about the matter, it might keep the craze from spreading and deter the potential loss of sales. While many are drawing the obvious connection between these acts of vandalism and those portrayed on the VW Beetle after its release in the 1960s, Smart owners aren't happy. According to Telegraff, 5 cars have been found in the canals of Amsterdam alone in the past two weeks.

Will "Smart Tipping" Spread to America?

It's thought that Smart Tipping is popular in Europe for two reasons:

1. Many buildings in Europe have parallel parking spots that run along the edge of a canal. Smart owners are keen on backing-in to park, which not only saves space, but allows the owner to exit into busy traffic with ease. Members of Smart Car of America stated that they consider this parking method to be a style perk of being a Smart owner.
2. The engine, fuel tank, and drive shaft of Smart Cars are in the rear. This means that the car, which only weighs a scant 1900lbs, is virtually weightless in the nose when empty.

Amsterdam police speculate that the youths perpetrating this vandalism may be doing it as a bet, and evidence from one of the cases indicates that a lone vandal is capable of flipping the car. The police indicated that evidence from another scene clearly shows 4 vandals lifting the car clear off its wheels, carrying it 20 feet, and dumping it into a lake. Because of this, the city does not believe that installing higher guard rails will deter all "Smart Smijten."

While American SMART car owners don't have to contend with the deep canals that urban-drellers in Europe do, it is still possible that Smart Tipping could spread in a more literal sense. Since none of the vandals have been caught, it's not clear if the vandals are targeting that specific marque for its ease of vandalism, or for their disdain for the ideal behind the machine.