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?

@Alyso Also Mrs Ableist, I AM in receipt of Enhanced Mobility rate of PIP and the Motability grants team gave me a list of cars to pick from (as they kindly paid the advanced payment for me) and on that list was:

Nissan Qashqai
Kia Sportage
Nissan X-Trail
Ford Kuga
MG HS
& Honda CRV

I chose the Kia Sportage. So don't tell me what "us disabled people" should be doing! I was literally given a list of SUVs to choose from!!!!

@Lionoso Well I'm not in a wheelchair.....yet. I use a mobility scooter and I'm soon to have a hoist fitted to lift it in & out of my Kia.

People can be disabled without getting pip and pay for their own cars. Shocking I know.

@Alyso I beg your pardon?!?! I CANNOT BEND!!!!! I am physically unable to get into ANY car which is lower than an SUV ffs! But yeah, telling me to have a long hard look at myself for being disabled is NOT ableist at alllllllllll, no

I shall take a long hard look at my useless body shall I?

Ableist and disgusting.

but a vehicle like the range rover in question has so much more horsepower and height that small mistakes can have devastating consequences.
a corsa would not have enough oomph to go through two fences and drive through a group of people and furniture and damage a building.

it's the combination of horse power & weight and size.

@speluncean If you want to PM me, I can maybe give you some help with your tribunal? Been there myself once in the past

@Alyso Hahahahaha

the highjacking of this thread is disgusting.

yes, disabled people need and deserve transport that suit their needs.

but that's not the kind of vehicle involved in the accident.

Fair enough, but as has been pointed out a lot on this thread already, this isn't about disabled people who need a specific car or people who genuinely need 4 x4s. The vast majority of people who buy SUVs don't genuine need them.

This 100%. I don’t know many 4 children families but I do know a loT Land Rover ,Jeep , Range Rover etc owners.

They are for the most part status symbols and have no practical use in cities .

Why are people trying to make this thread about disabilities? If you are disabled or live in a very rural area you may need one. If you don’t? Selfish!

I've asked a couple of times on these threads what is the definition of an SUV?

Also what is the definition of "acceptable" disability for an SUV, considering that the current models are based on rationing access to benefits rather than actual need or disability?

What will be the definition and list of approved jobs which allow you to drive an SUV? And will you only be allowed to use it in the course of work (thereby potentially needing to run two cars)?

Its all very well to rant and virtue signal but laws require detail and I've yet to see any of these definitions.

Incidentally, EVs tend to be quite a bit heavier than their petrol counterparts so considering weight is one of the big complaints here maybe we should promote more petrol cars. A lot of the weight on modern cars comes from the additional safety features - perhaps we should remove those as well?

Or we could all wait and see the accident reports for the details of the actual cause before jumping to unworkable solutions.

Does a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sportage qualify as an SUV?

Not all people who have mobility issues are designated "disabled". It doesn't happen overnight and is a process. DH has been unable to get in or out of smaller, lower cars for some years but only now has applied for PIP and blue badge as his condition has deteriorated. For those intervening years, we managed one way or another (having an SUV!). He could have applied before he absolutely needed it and taken the money that goes with the disability benefits, if people have to do that as the only way to "qualify" for the kind of car they need, there will be more demand on the benefits system. I notice many people on this thread have two cars, and I could judge that because it isn't necessary where we live, but I assume their circumstances are different and it makes sense

YANBU

few need them they are a fashion accessory they should be very highly taxed in cities unless they are genuinely needed

I also think you should have to do an extra test as so many drivers of these cars struggle they hold traffic up as they are not skilful enough to drive the cars and have to wait where are more skilful driver could manage

and worse for the environment they take up more space on the roads

I really don't understand the propensity in this thread for people this discussion/possible limitation clearly doesn't even apply to (e.g., needing SUVs or similar height cars for mobility reasons) still taking this discussion as intent to take away their cars.

If you need that kind of car then the issue isn't about you, is it?!

In SW London, where the accident happened and where I live, it is rarely about need and almost always about fashion and bragging rights.

Many get them because they are high up (and people get out of their way as they are like tanks). I cannot tell you, though, the amount of times when I, in a normal size car, have to put my wheels up on the kerb to go past an appallingly driven 4x4. I do think ‘bloody hell (or similar), you buy a vehicle designed to drive across rivers and up mountains, but you are frightened of a kerb!’

Ultimately, the best way to deal with 4x4s and the wealthy is how smoking and drink driving were dealt with. The right marketing and campaigning needs to change people’s mindsets to be disgusted rather than impressed by them. If they were seen as the choice of new money, poor drivers and the selfish, they would soon disappear.

I think requiring a special licence exemption is fair. There are a lot ( not all) of people with suvs who would be better off with a more practical estate car, but it's not the fashion to drive an estate car.

Some SUVs hardly fit in standard car parking spaces!

We've got an issue with careless couriers in transit sized vans round here, they could get a licence exemption too. Tradies and couriers have a reasonable need for a van.They've already dropped the ability to tow off a standard car licence thankfully.