Home / Environment / Tax SUVs to Fund EV Scheme, Say Campaigners
Tax SUVs to Fund EV Scheme, Say Campaigners
5 Mar
Summary
- One in three UK drivers find SUVs more dangerous to pedestrians.
- A 'large vehicle tax' is proposed to fund electric vehicle subsidies.
- SUVs are 44% more likely to cause fatal pedestrian injuries.
SUVs have become the dominant vehicle type in Britain, outselling traditional cars for the past two years. However, concerns are mounting regarding their safety, with one in three UK drivers perceiving them as more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists than smaller vehicles.
Research indicates that over half of car models available in UK showrooms are now SUVs or crossovers. This growth has contributed to an increase in the average width of new cars sold. A think tank is advocating for a 'large vehicle tax' on SUVs to incentivize the purchase of smaller, less harmful vehicles.
Studies reveal that pedestrians are 44% more likely to suffer fatal injuries when struck by an SUV compared to a regular car. This increased risk is attributed to vulnerable road users being more likely to be pulled under larger vehicles. Campaigners are calling for improved vehicle design, including mandated bumpers and hoods that reduce injury severity, and pedestrian automatic emergency braking.
The proposed 'large vehicle tax' could fund a social leasing scheme to subsidize electric vehicles for low-income families, addressing the current affordability gap in EV ownership and potentially driving up EV sales, which have seen slowed growth recently.
