SUV drivers could face new taxes and parking charges under new safety plans - 'Risk to pedestrians'

Last month, London Assembly members passed a motion calling on the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to introduce new higher parking charges for larger vehicles in a bid to improve pedestrian safety.

Labour Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, has been campaigning for the measures throughout the year, citing the significant impact SUVs have on pedestrians.

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She warned that London streets were not designed for large cars like SUVs, which now make up a third of vehicles on the road.

The Londonwide AM said: "Their size, weight, and high bonnets increase risks to pedestrians and cyclists, reduce parking space availability, and cause more road damage."

Alongside support from the London Assembly, other groups have also shown support for the restrictions, including the SUV Alliance, Solve The School Run, Mums for Lungs and Clean Cities.

To tackle the issue of "carspreading", campaigners have called on the Mayor to introduce fairer taxes for larger vehicles, as well as more appropriate parking costs based on the size of the car.

A recent report found that SUVs reduce drivers' visibility of other road users, with drivers behind high bonnets unable to see children as old as nine in front of them.

Now, a group of school children are set to urge councillors in London to take action against the larger vehicles and discourage supersized SUVs.

The study recorded that 359,000 road traffic deaths across the UK were caused by SUVs over 20 years, showing the huge impact they have on pedestrian safety.

It revealed that between 2004 and 2023, the proportion of pedestrian and cyclist car crash casualties that involved an SUV increased from four per cent to 26 per cent.

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Meanwhile, children aged 18 and younger who were struck by SUVs were 77 per cent more likely to have a fatal injury than those hit by cars.

Dr Anna Goodman, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and lead author of the study, said: "In the UK, we have seen a huge increase in the sale of ever-larger cars.

"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."

She explained that cities and countries around the world have started to introduce measures to discourage the use of these large vehicles.

Goodman added that the study strengthens the road safety rationale for such measures in the UK. "It also suggests that targeting weight or height will be much more effective than just targeting length," she noted.

Meanwhile, a poll showed that 79 per cent of London parents think it's not safe enough for children to cycle on London's roads, with 61 per cent concerned that bigger cars make it more dangerous for children to walk and cycle in London.

Nicola Pastore, who set up Solve the School Run, shared: "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."