The number of SUVs crowding out the roads of England’s cities has increased 10 times in recent years, according to figures from researchers. New research published by Clean Cities shows the huge growth in carspreading in major urban areas in England, from 3% to 30% of existing cars in the last two decades (2002/3 – 2022/3). [1]
There have been similarly large increases in smaller urban areas (3% to 28%) and in rural areas (6% to 33%). In England as a whole, we estimate that 29% of cars are now SUVs [1, 2]. The scale of urban carspreading is mind boggling. In London, the number of SUVs has increased by almost three quarters of a million (720,000), from around 80,000 SUVs in 2002 to around 800,000 SUVs in 2023 [3]. If you tried to park these 800,000 SUVs next to each other, with a 1m gap between them, it would take up the same size as the entire London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [4]. And if you tried to park the estimated 8.2 million SUVs owned in England as a whole, it would take up more space than the city of Manchester[5].

image.png

The evidence base for discouraging SUV use in urban areas is growing, with SUVs shown to be far more dangerous for children and other road users in the case of a crash. The latest research shows that SUVs on UK roads are 14% more likely to kill a pedestrian or cyclist and 77% more likely to kill a child, as compared to a traditional passenger car [6]. For young children the effect is even larger: SUVs are three times more likely to kill a child pedestrian or cyclist aged 0 to 9 years than a traditional passenger car. These large negative effects in the UK are mirrored in the international evidence, and result from the extra weight of an SUV and design features such as a taller and squarer bonnet [7]. Tests commissioned by T&E find a driver of the highest fronted model on EU and UK roads, the Ram TRX, is unable to see children aged up to nine standing directly in front. A Land Rover Defender driver cannot see children aged up to four and a half [8].

image.png

Campaigners are calling for Paris-style measures, which have cut SUV parking by two thirds, in major UK cities such as London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Polling has found that 71% of UK car owners agree that SUVs will make parking more difficult. Cardiff has consulted with the public on a new city wide parking management plan, including a weight based threshold, while Lambeth is working with two other authorities on similar plans after calls from local campaigners and the London Assembly. Bristol and Bath are both working on plans to discourage SUV use. In Edinburgh, the council has restricted advertising for SUVs similar to tobacco style restrictions [9].

Preliminary findings from Paris show that action can have real impact. According to reports in Le Parisien, the tripling of the parking rate for “heavy” or SUV-type vehicles in Paris has already made it possible, according to the City, to reduce by two thirds the number of SUVs using surface parking [10].

Dr Anna Goodman, an academic transport researcher and director of Transport for Quality of Life, who collaborated with Clean Cities to conduct this research said: “SUVs increasingly dominate our streets. In just two decades, the share of SUVs in English cities has grown tenfold. In London, the number of SUVs has swelled by around 720,000. This has important implications for congestion, public space, and road safety. The evidence is clear that SUVs increase road danger for people walking and cycling, particularly for children. Many cities around the world are bringing in targeted measures to discourage SUV ownership and use, and early reports from Paris indicate that these measures can be successful.”

The idea resonates with members of the public, particularly in cities. Polling conducted for Clean Cities found the majority of Londoners (59%) support higher parking charges for SUVs (18% disagree) while nearly six in ten are concerned bigger cars make it more dangerous for children to walk and cycle (16% disagree) [11].