Overview

• 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.