Calls Grow for Higher Taxes and Fees on SUVs in the UK

Campaigners push for policy changes as studies link larger SUVs to increased road damage, higher fatal collision rates, and urban infrastructure challenges.

• SUVs now account for 33% of car registrations in the UK, up from 12% a decade ago, with many models exceeding standard parking space dimensions.
• Recent studies confirm that heavier SUVs cause more road damage and are linked to higher fatal collision rates, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of smaller vehicles.
• Advocacy groups, including the Clean Cities Campaign, are calling for reforms such as higher vehicle excise duties and parking fees for larger cars to address their disproportionate impact.
• Paris has already implemented triple parking charges for SUVs, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed support for similar measures in the UK capital.
• The growing size of SUVs is driven by consumer preferences and safety features like side-impact protection, exacerbating challenges in urban infrastructure and road safety.

3 Articles

The Telegraph The Times The Guardian