To think the law needs to change on 4x4s and Supersized SUVs in Cities.

[JustMint]

Unsure how, but today's news is just horrifying, these vehicles really need to be reduced in numbers in residential areas in my opinion. They are significantly heavier than smaller cars (I know that's stating the obvious) but who really needs a 4X4 in a city?

While I agree to some extent that a lot of people in cities do not need their massive cars in this case have you seen the photo of where the car ended up? A child hasn't died because this woman's car was too big, it looks to me like something much worse has gone on.

The government already does this. You have to be a certain age and hold the right licence. Councils restrict what you can park where, assuming you have no off-road parking. Your licence can be withdrawn if your eyesight is poor, through ill health, or through disqualification.

I, for example, cannot go out and buy a lorry. Or a tank. Or a tractor. I cannot buy a bus and park it on the street outside.

Restricting SUV use to those who have passed further driving tests, having stronger insurance etc would be quite easy.

Electric cars are generally much heavier so I assume your ill-considered calls for "something" will include restricting them too? After all no-one NEEDS and electric car.

Not everyone driving in a city lives in the city! I drive in because public transport is rubbish and expensive, actually my car isn't big but i could really do with 4 wheel drive as it gets a bit dicey on the hills in snow, just a few days a year but I have to drive daily and only have one car

I posted this on a thread which is now deleted, but the main problem here with SUVs is their height and shape.

They have square bonnets which will hit people at chest height or above. When they hit people, people are more likely to go under the car. If a Landrover hit me I would go under the car and be crushed.

Compare that to a big standard estate or hatchback. Much lower bonnet, which slopes downwards. If a ford fiesta came at me it would hit me in the legs and I would fall onto the bonnet, and assuming the car carried on I would probably end up rolling off to the side.

The outcomes of being hit by an SUV and other cars are very different, even before you consider the weight and power behind them.

They should require a special license, or proof of need like red diseal. Doesn't help that most of the people who drive them are inconsiderate wankers.

This the type of car involved. This is from three years ago, almost exactly:

https://twitter.com/CiaranCuffe/status/1280813145754349568?t=W59qPR_FSvZCQRVh1den2g&s=19

I haven't seen any news today, but small cars kill too. Some 4x4 vehicles have external pedestrian airbags. I'm pretty sure that's safer than some older, smaller cars

*bog standard, not big standard.

Eh?

I, for example, cannot go out and buy a lorry. Or a tank. Or a tractor. I cannot buy a bus and park it on the street outside. just to say actually, you can buy and drive a tractor on a road at 16. There are rules about distance from the farm and you have to pass a basic competency test. Drive passed any young farmers meeting (obviously not a city problem) and count the 16yos pulling up in huge tractors because they are legally too young to drive a car, or haven't yet passed their driving tests.

What on earth is "stronger insurance", and how would have prevented a tragic accident like today's?
Also what testing do you think would have prevented today's tragedy, which was reportedly the result of a medical incident for the driver?

I stand corrected on the tractor point then, but as I neither possess the right licence nor I imagine live close enough to the nearest farm I suspect I would still not be allowed to drive it!

Definitely a competency further driving test as with HGV of certain weight categories.
Hopefully this tragedy will provoke law changes.

Well for a start it may have meant the person concerned was driving a car more appropriate for the urban environment which would be smaller and less powerful and therefore less likely to careen through fences.

I can’t see the point of 4x4s unless your rural or have a big family tbh
it’s mainly a status thing having a Range Rover ! I call them mummy wagons!
I prefer a car u can nip about in low engine low emissions x

My electric city car weighs more than my SUV.

So... yeah. Not really thought this one through, have you?

No cars are "featherweight". They are all heavy and likely to kill a small child if they sadly hit one.

Wow that's some magical "stronger insurance".

Good for you! Great contribution!

I have got a Defender (old style not new) because I use it to tow, I chuck animal feed, mess and the dogs in the cage at the back whilst allowing the people inside to no smell like animals when they off to work / college.

I drive into the city. I drive to the school, well college now. I can't afford 2 vehicles so that I can just have a smaller one for when I have to go to built up areas and I cannot manage without the 4x4 on a practical level so clearly I am against banning them.

I have to say though that the van that brings my Tesco delivery would have caused as much carnage are we banning those from towns too?

Correct. Plus at the height where an SUV bonnet hits you have all of your major organs. Compare this to a fiesta which will break your legs - shitty but survivable.

I would like car parks to set size limits so that huge cars trying to pretend they fit in the spaces can be fined. If there’s nowhere to park, people might start choosing smaller cars.