SUVs Under Fire: Legal Experts Call for New Urban Restrictions

SUVs are facing renewed scrutiny in the UK as legal experts push for weight-based levies, visibility standards, and restricted access in city centres—citing pedestrian safety and environmental concerns.

Safety Concerns at the Core

Legal experts say SUVs pose heightened risks to pedestrians and cyclists due to limited visibility and larger blind spots. Research shows children are 82% more likely to die when struck by an SUV than a smaller car.

Visibility Limits Could Be Deadly

Some SUVs reportedly have such poor frontal visibility that drivers can’t see a 9-year-old child standing directly in front of the vehicle—raising calls for mandated visibility standards.

Pedestrian Risk Amplified

Data from Imperial College London shows pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are 44% more likely in SUV collisions, adding urgency to the push for tighter regulations on large vehicles.

Proposed Weight-Based Levies

Solicitors propose that cities introduce weight-based parking and access levies to offset the damage and danger posed by heavier vehicles like SUVs.

Restrictions in Urban Areas

Lawyers suggest restricting SUVs from certain city zones altogether, citing narrow streets, crowded environments, and growing urban populations as incompatible with oversized cars.

Councils Already Taking Action

Several London boroughs have introduced emissions-based parking charges, which tend to penalize SUVs more due to their higher emission output.

A Growing Urban Footprint

Experts warn that SUVs now take up as much urban space in London as the entire borough of Kensington and Chelsea—underscoring the spatial strain caused by their rising popularity.

Legislative Gaps Highlighted

Currently, SUVs are legally treated like regular cars. Experts argue this outdated approach fails to reflect the real-world safety and environmental impacts of oversized vehicles.