UK SUV Petition

[icowden]

And yes, regulations prevent them being even worse - they're basically as bad as they are allowed to be.
Radical thought - maybe we should tighten up the regulations.

But according to one of the founder members of pessimists associated y would still be as bad as they are allowed to be.
Radical thought - perhaps the regulations are aimed at making them *better* than they were.

More semantics I suppose...

 

[Fastpedaller]

One problem with the NCAP ratings is that it's largely weighted (pun intended) towards providing passenger protection. The huge A-pillars on vehicles are a good example, designed to minimise passenger injury in the (very unlikely statistically) event of a roll-over has resulted in less visibility along with more danger to other road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists

 

[matticus]

View: https://twitter.com/adamtranter/status/1736864564329992582?t=CBMbM9xKJXMsOsoq8s8CGg&s=19

 

[Jody]

View: https://twitter.com/adamtranter/status/1736864564329992582?t=CBMbM9xKJXMsOsoq8s8CGg&s=19

Accidents also happen with small car derived vans?

 

[Gillstay]

But most SUVs don’t actually fall into your description, my old estate was bigger, thirstier and a damn sight less safe for me and for everyone around me. But hell let’s not let your opinion get in the way of facts.

Did you go on to buy a newer estate car after it ?

 

[Alex321]

View: https://twitter.com/adamtranter/status/1736864564329992582?t=CBMbM9xKJXMsOsoq8s8CGg&s=19

Was that supposed to add anything to this discussion?

If so, could you tell us what?

BTW, that appears to have been a Peugeot Partner (their version of the Berlingo), which I don't think most people would call an SUV.

 

[DRHysted]

Did you go on to buy a newer estate car after it ?

No, because an estate car didn’t fulfill my requirements and has been rather pointedly pointed out to you would’ve not been as safe FOR OTHER ROAD USERS. My SUV is smaller, more fuel efficient (it is a hybrid), has less emissions, and is safer for myself AND OTHER ROAD USERS than the estate it replaced. Before the Americans used the term SUV it would’ve been called a CAR.
My CAR has been developed and tested by NCAP for both driver safety, pedestrian safety, cyclist safety and other road users. Because you’ve got a bee in your bonnet about “Chelsea tractors” you’re spreading your paint brush too wide.
We’re not going to agree here so I’ll take my leave. But trust me if anyone try’s to ban SUVs manufacturers will just start making cars again.

 

[Landsurfer]

I’ve bought a nice big ssangyong muso saracen …22 plate .. a big auto, 4WD pickup truck … its huge, does 40 to the gallon and transports 5 of us in safety and comfort. ..£28K …. Love it …. Goes great off road, where I do most of my work …Range, 500 miles plus …. Shove your electric …

 

[Alex321]

But trust me if anyone try’s to ban SUVs manufacturers will just start making cars again.

In spite of discussions here, nobody is ever going to ban "SUVs".

Any ban or restriction which is brought in will be predicated on actual dimensions/weight/shape of vehicles, rather than on what the manufacturers call them.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

My CAR has been developed and tested by NCAP for both driver safety, pedestrian safety, cyclist safety and other road users.

What NCAP safety tests did they carry out for cyclists and horse riders?

 

[youngoldbloke]

The abbreviation SUV is meaningless. Invented as a marketing term to imply that purchase of such a vehicle will enhance one's lifestyle and sex appeal - active fit and healthy. The vehicles that should be actively discouraged are the grossly oversized, overweight ones that are totally unsuited to our narrow congested roads and overcrowded cities - the 'Chelsea Tractors' typified by the school-run Range Rover, and the ludicrously large and expensive 'luxury' EVs.

 

[matticus]

I though tI'd go back to the start of the thread, to see if we were actually moving the debate along at all.

I found this marvellous idea (post #8):

If its a Utility vehicle then it wont need the fast lane of the motorway so just stop them using it and the shine will go off them instantly.

 

[Profpointy]

But most SUVs don’t actually fall into your description, my old estate was bigger, thirstier and a damn sight less safe for me and for everyone around me. But hell let’s not let your opinion get in the way of facts.

Ok my belief that 2700kg is an excessive weight for a family runabout is "just an opinion man".

I double checked Rangerover and Toyota Land Cruiser weights, and remember my Mrs' Landy was about that weight too. I dare say the various other vehicles of that type are much the same or even more

I'd be astonished if a normal estate car was anything like as heavy. My too heavy big Saab is around 1700kg

We aren't really discussing Mini Mokes and the like so it's a bit disingenuous to suggest we are. In any case even those are more prone to sharp edges, and things like Suzi Jeeps were more prone to rolling over (when driven badly)

 

[matticus]

I've signed-it.
It's an issue worth raising IMO despite the petition being poorly worded, I think most people know what's meant by it.
Nudging people to use smaller, less imposing, more efficient, less harmful vehicles can only be a good thing surely? It's not perfect but every little helps. There are plenty reasons why these vehicles are not appropriate, particularly in cities.
There's also this recently.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/26/more-than-150-car-models-too-big-for-regular-uk-parking-spaces#:~:text=More than 150 car models are now too big to,phenomenon known as “autobesity”.
If you want to see this in action, try the business Parking at Heathrow.
Saw on t'internet a distraught W'panzer driver protesting with the Traffic Warden because he'd been given a parking fine as his car didn't fit within the parking space - made me chuckle!
They should be called Sports Futility Vehicles....

Great post!

 

[Alex321]

Ok my belief that 2700kg is an excessive weight for a family runabout is "just an opinion man".

I double checked Rangerover and Toyota Land Cruiser weights, and remember my Mrs' Landy was about that weight too. I dare say the various other vehicles of that type are much the same or even more

I'd be astonished if a normal estate car was anything like as heavy. My too heavy big Saab is around 1700kg

I would certainly agree there.

But I'm not sure weight is really a usable metric for deciding what should be banned or restricted, even if you have exemptions for commercial vehicles and things like camper vanes.

We aren't really discussing Mini Mokes and the like so it's a bit disingenuous to suggest we are. In any case even those are more prone to sharp edges, and things like Suzi Jeeps were more prone to rolling over (when driven badly)

Well this is the problem with using the term SUV.

It isn't generic "SUVs" that need restricting, it is only certain types.

And while the petition referenced at the start of the thread doesn't mention SUVs, it is still very badly worded and far too woolly in what it wants to ban, and even where it wants them banned - just what is meant by "urban areas"?.