London is witnessing a fierce debate over the rising dominance of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), with campaigners and researchers questioning whether such large, heavy and polluting vehicles belong in an urban environment. Critics argue that these cars not only contribute to worsening air quality but also pose a disproportionate risk to pedestrians and cyclists. According to campaign group Clean Cities, the number of SUVs in London has grown tenfold over the past two decades, from about 80,000 in 2002 to around 800,000 in 2023.
This surge has led to mounting calls for stricter measures to curb their use, particularly by charging owners higher parking and road-use fees. Some councils are already moving in this direction. Westminster has implemented restrictions under an emissions-based parking scheme, while Lambeth Council is weighing similar measures. For parents like Nicola Pastore, who founded the group Solve the School Run, SUVs are a daily concern. She says navigating London’s streets with her three young children has become increasingly daunting due to the growing presence of large vehicles. Pastore argues that SUVs are especially dangerous for children because their elevated bonnets strike at head or torso level, increasing the risk of fatal injuries.
Research backs these fears. Dr Anthony Laverty of Imperial College London, who has studied the impact of SUVs globally, notes that pedestrians or cyclists hit by an SUV are 44% more likely to die than if struck by a smaller car, with the risk rising to 82% for children. His analysis of half a million road traffic injuries underscores the inherent danger posed by the bulk and design of these vehicles.
The trend is not unique to London. Last year, Parisians voted to sharply increase parking charges for SUVs, tripling rates for heavier cars to discourage their use in central areas. London itself debated similar measures as early as 2008, when then-mayor Ken Livingstone proposed higher congestion charges for large, polluting cars, although the plan was shelved after his electoral defeat.
Today, political momentum is again building against SUVs. The London Assembly’s Transport Committee has urged the mayor to lobby for tighter vehicle size regulations, progressive taxes based on car weight, and borough-level surcharges on SUVs to reflect the pressure they exert on limited road space. While City Hall has yet to unveil specific plans, it has promised to refresh its Vision Zero Action Plan this year to address road safety risks. With SUVs now accounting for more than half of new car sales, the controversy over their place in London shows no signs of slowing down.
