London Councils and Campaigners Take Aim at SUVs

LONDON — A growing political and public debate is mounting in London over the escalating presence of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which are widely considered to pose a significant risk to urban safety and air quality. Following a tenfold increase in the number of these larger vehicles on the city's streets over the past two decades, campaigners are calling for new policies to deter their use.

According to research from campaign group Clean Cities, the number of SUVs in London has soared from 80,000 in 2002 to an estimated 800,000 in 2023. This boom in popularity has prompted warnings from road safety advocates, who argue that SUVs are heavier, more polluting, and more dangerous to vulnerable road users than conventional cars.

A study by Imperial College London found that a person is 44% more likely to be killed if hit by an SUV compared to a standard car. For children, the risk is even more stark, rising to 82%. Dr Anthony Laverty, a researcher on the project, explained that the taller, blunter bonnets of these vehicles mean a child is more likely to be struck in the head or torso, leading to far more serious injuries.

Mum-of-three Nicola Pastore, who founded the group Solve the School Run, says the number of SUVs is "really scary" for parents and children navigating the city's streets. She advocates for councils to use parking tariffs as a deterrent, arguing that drivers of larger cars should pay more to reflect the space they occupy and the greater threat they pose to the public.

In response to these concerns, a number of London councils are considering new measures. In Westminster, an emissions-based parking scheme is already in place, increasing charges for some larger vehicles. The London Assembly's Transport Committee is now urging the mayor to take further action, including exploring a progressive weight tax and requesting that the government update vehicle regulations to limit passenger vehicle size and bonnet height.

This local push mirrors a similar policy in Paris, where residents voted to triple parking fees for heavier vehicles. The debate over the role of SUVs in cities continues to intensify, with their growing size and number putting immense pressure on urban infrastructure and fuelling calls for a new approach to transport policy.

(Source: BBC reporting and local media outlets)