London Mayor Sadiq Khan is reportedly considering introducing charges for large SUVs on the capital’s roads, according to a new document, r r
Transport for London’s (TfL) Vision Zero action plan highlighted a “pressing need for targeted safety interventions” regarding larger vehicles, reports RTE.
The plan noted that the size of large SUVs can make roads “more hazardous for everybody outside the vehicle” as they “significantly increase the severity of collisions”.
This initiative forms part of Mr Khan’s broader efforts to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041, reports RTE.
While there is no formal definition of an SUV, the term typically refers to vehicles that are taller, wider, and heavier than standard cars, and generally less fuel-efficient.
SUVs have become increasingly popular in recent years, partly because of the higher driving position they provide, reports RTE.
Around a third of all new cars registered in the UK are now SUVs, reports RTE.
The Vision Zero document warned that “oversized” vehicles such as large SUVs make it “harder for drivers to see people walking and cycling nearby,” with children being “more easily hidden from a driver’s view”, reports RTE.
It also stated that SUVs in the UK are 14% more likely to kill pedestrians and cyclists in collisions than other passenger cars and 77% more likely to kill children.
A spokesperson for the mayor said: “There is growing evidence about the safety risks of large SUVs, which are becoming more common on London’s roads, reports RTE.
“It’s a startling figure that SUVs are 77% more likely to kill a child if involved in a collision.
“The mayor has asked TfL to undertake detailed analysis of the safety risks posed by large SUVs and their wider impact on London’s roads.
“This could then inform any future policy proposals in London or recommendations to Government or the sector, reports RTE.
“As the numbers of large SUVs increase on London’s roads, it is right that TfL consider their impact on safety and how they affect other road users.”
No formal proposals for charges on large SUVs have yet been made.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said all vehicles sold in the UK “regardless of size” must meet “exacting safety and pedestrian protection standards”, reports RTE.
He added: “Singling out specific cars based on size restricts consumer choice and would unfairly penalise the many drivers who require a larger vehicle for essential mobility.”
Mr Khan expanded London’s ultra-low emission zone to cover the entire city in August 2023.
Under this scheme, drivers of vehicles that do not meet emissions standards must pay a daily fee of £12.50 (€14.45), reports RTE.
London also charges £18 (€20) for driving in a central congestion zone at specified times.
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