Warning to SUV drivers as new European rules could come to England

A warning has been issued to SUV drivers in England ahead of a potential clampdown. Experts are calling for new measures to be introduced which could see parking costs increased.

They are calling on the Labour government to adopt the same driving laws as in Europe in order to decrease the risk of SUVs to pedestrians. Due to their higher fronts, the cars have a higher death rate when pedestrians are hit. Analysis also showed that some SUV drivers could not see children when they were directly in front of their vehicle.

As reported by Birmingham Live, Parisians voted to triple parking costs for SUVs last year. They hoped the move would also tackle air pollution by targeting drivers in bigger and heavier cars.

According to Le Parisien, the number of SUVs using surface parking has since decreased by two-thirds. However, experts say that SUV numbers are growing in England and they pose an increasing risk.

Dr Anna Goodman, academic transport researcher and director of Transport for Quality of Life, said: "SUVs increasingly dominate our streets. In just two decades, the share of SUVs in English cities has grown tenfold.

"In London, the number of SUVs has swelled by around 720,000. This has important implications for congestion, public space, and road safety. The evidence is clear that SUVs increase road danger for people walking and cycling, particularly for children."

Oliver Lord, UK head of Clean Cities, added: "These oversized vehicles are not just swallowing our public space; they're also far more dangerous, especially for children. If we want cities that are safe, breathable and accessible, we have to get serious about tackling the rise of these urban land-hogs."

Barbara Stoll, senior director of T&E’s Clean Cities campaign, continued: "A child is killed every day on our roads, yet cars are being made so large that children are invisible from the driver’s seat. How is that acceptable?

"Thankfully, more and more city leaders are pushing back against carspreading, standing up for what citizens actually want: safe, green streets without monster vehicles."