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.

No one needs a SUV in London - unless you have only 1 car and have to visit family/friends with your family just inside the border about 20 miles away (which we do often). Our one car is also used for towing more often than we visit our friends. You cannot get electric cars that tow 3t + so we need the 4x4 and if we all go as that's all we have that we can all fit in. It's not practical to go by train as the lines we live nearest don't go anywhere near our friends, nor are there tube/bus connections, aside from which it'd take us most of the day travelling rather than 40 mins max. We also have a van (3 seats) motorbike (2 seats) and the kids have their own cars but they're tiny - can't really fit 5 comfortably in a Mini. Is it really off to use the 4x4? It's old and not Euro 6 but we see it as actually less carbon given a) we do well below the average mileage and b) the environmental cost of replacing with a newer one would be greater than carrying on using it. Or should we buy an extra car just for a few trips into London?

Just change it then

Id ban them. Not needed!

Cycling is mostly the fastest way in cities like london

Ooh whats next? Balance bikes?

Yes Mr Khan! Great idea!

Excellent idea. Nobody needs an SUV.

I’d like to see more cars off the road in cities. Public transport in London is fantastic and you can get a taxi if you have to carry stuff or travel late at night.

Great idea mr Khan.
Bravo.
Am a country dweller who visits London frequently to see my grown children. The SUVs are ridiculous and more numerous than they are in the fields and lanes around me, where they might actually be useful.
yeah - tax ‘em

OP: in a world of Nigel Farages, be a Sadiq Khan or you might find there’s not enough plebs left for you to lord it over.

Private car ownership is going down in big cities which is great

You’re brave driving the Hardnut pass. Yes, I did mean to say that!

Sadly not, although it sometimes feels like it!

get rid of them

Shame Zip has gone.

Good for Sadiq! These SUV and super sized vans are a menace, unsafe and need taxing into oblivion. Not just in London but countrywide.
OP your safety arguments are cuntingshly selfish and irrelevant. Be gone with you! Pedestrians and others safety matter just as much as you and yours.

Are you saying SUVs pose no extra threat to other people? Of course they do. Red cars don't. Silly argument.

I think the bigger the car the higher the cost, its natural.

I think SUV owners previously would have driven estate cars but the manufacturers now produce fewer and fewer of these almost forcing their customers to choose an SUV to have the same carrying capacity.

Off the top of my head:

BMW 3 series and 5 series, VW ID7, VW Passat, Skoda Superb and Octavia, whatever the Seat one is called, Audi A5 and A6, the MG one,Volvo V90 and V60, Merc C and E class, Toyota Auris and Corolla, Subaru Outback, Vauxhall Astra, the Peugeot ones. I'm sure I've missed some and there are of course many more available second hand.

Yes damn those manufacturers for holding a gun to our heads and forcing us to buy SUVs; it's definitely not just fashion and selfishness.

Not every SUV is massive though, I think 1 in 3 have an SUV.

I remember seeing a few of the new Discovery’s navigating the narrow streets in St Ives which was ridiculous.

Most of London is 20 mph? why not enforce that?

She wasn’t doing 20mh though, she has lost control of the car.

I went looking for a car last year and there were so many more suvs than ‘normal’ cars- options were suvs or very small ones. I said to each of the salespeople what’s the story, why has every brand decided to make everything so big! I’ve definitely seen more tanks like range and land rovers this year but I think taxing them is just to get more money

I would be interested to know the figures of how many dc are killed or hurt by SUVs in London?

I hate to say it but for once in my life I'm supporting khan on this. Not sure about the safety statistics, as the view from an SUV is higher, but on size and the space available on the road.