More than one in three Britons have shown support for new restrictions on larger vehicles, which could lead to millions facing higher taxes.
The findings come as campaign groups continue to put pressure on authorities to introduce more safety measures for pedestrians, with a particular focus on children.
Research published this week found that 37 per cent of people believe there are too many SUVs on UK roads, citing safety concerns as the primary issue.
The data also revealed that 35 per cent of respondents would be in favour of new regulations which could lead to better SUV designs, while 21 per cent support higher taxes.
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GETTY/CLEAN CITIES CAMPAIGN | SUVs have been found to cause more catastrophic injuries than standard cars Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: "SUVs have become the usual choice for most drivers in the UK who tend to like their higher seating position, adaptability for family life, and their go-anywhere image.
"However, our research shows there is a significant minority of people who are concerned about the increased safety risks that they bring, especially when it comes to pedestrians' surviving impacts."
He did note that it would "be premature to say that there is a backlash against SUVs, but there’s clearly a high degree of unease about how common they have become on our roads".
The survey also revealed that 19 per cent were in favour of restricting SUVs in pedestrian-heavy areas, while 18 per cent called on the car industry to do more to promote non-SUV cars.
GETTY | One in three Britons showed support for new restrictions on SUVs
However, 32 per cent of surveyed Britons stated that people should be allowed to drive whatever vehicle they choose, including SUVs.
Earlier this year, the London Assembly took action by passing a motion calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to introduce higher parking charges and weight-based car taxes for larger vehicles.
Labour Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, warned: "Their size, weight, and high bonnets increase risks to pedestrians and cyclists, reduce parking space availability, and cause more road damage."
She explained that London streets were not designed for large cars like SUVs, which now comprise a third of vehicles on the road.
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The motion has gained support from multiple campaign groups, including the SUV Alliance, Solve The School Run, Mums for Lungs and Clean Cities, who are calling for "fairer taxes" and parking costs based on vehicle size to tackle what they term "carspreading".
Meanwhile, a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London found the likelihood of death is 44 per cent higher for adults and 82 per cent higher for children when struck by an SUV rather than a standard car.
Dr Anna Goodman, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and lead author of the study, shared: "Our findings highlight that these larger vehicles are particularly dangerous for children, especially young children.
"This is probably because children are shorter in height and are therefore more vulnerable to the risks of being hit by vehicles with a tall front bonnet."
PA | The report suggests that SUVs should pay higher taxes due to them causing more casualties than other vehicles
The research recorded that 359,000 road traffic deaths were caused by SUVs over 20 years across the UK, with the data finding that between 2004 and 2023, the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities involving an SUV increased from four per cent to 26 per cent.
The findings also prompted a group of school children to urge London councillors this week to take action against larger vehicles and discourage supersized SUVs.
Nicola Pastore, who set up Solve the School Run, stated: "Every day I worry about my children's safety just walking to school. The rise in massive SUVs on our streets has made a simple journey feel dangerous.
"Parents shouldn't have to feel this way. It's time councillors stepped up with bold, coordinated action to protect children and reclaim our neighbourhoods."