To think levying additional charges on SUV owners in London is a bad idea?

[FirmNavyCat]

Saw this article in the Guardian yesterday and it's been prominent in my mind since I read it. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/13/suv-drivers-could-face-extra-charges-for-driving-in-london

Sadiq Khan is talking about levying further charges to SUV drivers due to the evidence that they pose a significantly increased risk of fatal injury to pedestrians in collisions, particularly children. While on the face of it this seems like a noble cause, my belief is that policymakers should be focused on beefing up existing laws. Speed limits should be reduced on roads that have the highest number of fatalities, and drivers who cause injury or death should face tougher sentencing by the courts. I know SUVs are popular on MN (and are popular with mums in urban areas generally). They feel so much safer to drive compared to smaller cars. Also, should the worst happen and you are involved in a collision, I would very strongly prefer to be in an SUV than a smaller car. I'd want my loved ones to be in an SUV as well if I had to choose.

So your perception of your own safety is more important than the documented dangers that huge SUVs pose to others. Or, more succinctly, "fuck everyone else".

SUVs are so dangerous to pedestrians particularly children. The extra weight also damages roads. Absolutely no need for them in London at all.

@FirmNavyCat it's purely a tax raising initiative.

Khan could just as easily decide that all red cars should be penalised, the problem is SUV owners have somewhat, of a "bad rep" and are an easy target so it can be "justified".

Sadly, some of the proletariat are just so gullible, they'll believe any bs that our politicians espouse.

"They feel so much safer to drive compared to smaller cars. Also, should the worst happen and you are involved in a collision, I would very strongly prefer to be in an SUV than a smaller car. I'd want my loved ones to be in an SUV as well if I had to choose."

Many years ago when Volvo based their marketing on safety, side impact protection etc, a survey discovered that Volvo's where involved in more accidents than was statistically likely, the researchers hypothesis was that because of the perceived safety, Volvo owners took more risks.. It is likely the same is true of the Chelsea Tractors I see abandoned on double yellows near local schools.

No, fuck 'em

I entirely agree with Mr Khan, which is something I thought I'd never say. Evidence-based policymaking - whoddathunkit?

Tax these things out of existence.

Speed limits are already 20mph in most of London. How much lower do you want them to go?

You didn’t mention that Khan is also encouraging the Metropolitan Police to swap his large armoured car for a smaller one.

He doesn’t own an SUV

He is right that London parking spaces and streets are not made for SUVs, whatever the regs may say. This is on top of the proven excessive danger to others when SUVs are involved in an accident.

So I agree with @GasperyJacquesRoberts

SUVs are a fucking menace to cyclists and pedestrians. I loathe them and would tax them into the ground. How's your little influencing campaign going so far OP?

But you can keep the SUV it will just cost more to drive them in London.
Which people will pay

OP, if your loved one is walking down the road and gets hit by a car, would you prefer they were hit by a small car or an SUV? Would you prefer your children to breathe air pollution by smaller cars or polluted by bigger cars?

It’s a bloody great idea. They should also make them pay more for the bigger parking spaces they need.

Oh I didn’t know about this idea. I LOVE it!!

I’m in London and surrounded by SUVs. Not only are they more dangerous for pedestrians, but they take up way more than their fair share of road space, which is at a premium in London. There are loads of roads round here where two normal cars can pass each other but if one is an SUV, they can’t (let alone if both are!). Similarly there are lots of parking spaces where a normal car will fit within the lines but a parked SUV overhangs and takes up some of the road space. So they are causing extra traffic as they block up the roads more. Not to mention half of SUV drivers seem to be incapable of tucking into a space or reversing and expect the other driver to…

Bring it on Sadiq!!!

He should go much further.
Beef up public transport and pedestrianise the whole city.

It won't raise much revenue if it influences behaviour. Time will tell if it influences behaviour and if people sell their SUVs or when it's time to replace will they opt for smaller cars. I guess if it works as a behaviour tool he could extend it to other vehicles deemed unsafe. I do find getting around London now in a car very slow and irritating. I usually opt for train or tube of going anywhere but there are times you need a car.

Ugh I accidentally voted YANBU.

you don’t need an SUV in London.

Yes. Nobody is stopping them having these stupid vehicles, I don’t see why they shouldn’t pay for the extra space, weight, etc.

I wish they’d tax them more everywhere, and charge them more for parking (as Paris does).

Actually, I wish they’d ban the fucking things, full stop, but acknowledge that’s probably too tricky, so taxing them to the hilt would be a good start.

So they are safer for you to drive with your child in them? Bollocks to other people’s children then if you hit them. They aren’t as important as your child.

Londoner here and I loathe those huge SUVs. Cars can't pass on roads where SUVs are parked on both sides. The height of their bonnets mean they are more likely to kill or seriously injure a small child. And this must be far more important than those drivers saying they feel safer inside one. They should not be categorised as cars and therefore should be taxed differently, and by that I mean heavily as a deterrent.

There were similar findings when Australia (I think, it was years back) made cycling without a helmet illegal - more cycling fatalities. Some professor in the UK did a study showing how drivers behave more recklessly to helmet wearing cyclists as they perceived them as ‘safe’.

You can change your vote

If you read the coverage, this probably won’t apply to all SUVs - just the mammoth ones. There is a massive difference in bonnet height in SUV, which I particularly notice when cycling as the largest ones feel on a level with my head, and given the risk to pedestrians it’s not really unreasonable for these extra large cars to be regulated. Car manufacturers can make safer designs - they are just choosing not to.

There are also expenses that arise to councils if people choose to drive these really heavy cars - for example the Institute of Structural Engineers recently warned that older car parks might need engineering work not be able to support the weight. Why should someone who drives a hatchback subsidise SUV drivers?

Then there’s the effect on the weight on pavements re slabs cracking & creating tripping hazards (although this might be less in London as unlike elsewhere in the country they actually have rules restricting pavement parking). It sounds minor - but it isn’t for older people who are vulnerable to falls.

What really impressed me in Sadiq Khan’s statement is that he is openly talking about Vision Zero - specifically that we have too many people killed / injured in road collisions and that we can and should reduce this. That’s something that other mayors / council leaders should do too. He’s also talking about his own car use too so that people know these rules will apply to him too. Again, that’s something other politicians should copy.

As for 20mph - if a car hits you at 20, you have a good chance of survival - at 30mph you don’t. Pedestrians & cyclists aren’t there to be collateral damage just because drivers don’t like using their brakes.

Why not do both? Make it more inconvenient to own SUVs, enforce speed limits and revoke people's driving licenses if they cause death or injury alongside actual meaningful fines and prison sentences

Do they have a 'bad rep' because of the 'evidence that they pose a significantly increased risk of fatal injury to pedestrians in collisions, particularly children'?

Oh those gullible proles 🙄

Honestly who needs a giant SUV in London?