London Mayor Sadiq Khan May Give Up Armoured Car in SUV Crackdown
Drivers in London may be encouraged to give up their cars as part of a significant crackdown on SUVs, with Labour Party Mayor Sadiq Khan potentially leading by example by relinquishing his official armoured vehicle. The mayor has announced plans to encourage the Metropolitan Police to scale down his security transport alongside new charges for larger vehicles, aiming to address growing safety and urban design concerns.
Safety Concerns Drive Proposed Measures
Mayor Khan highlighted alarming statistics regarding SUV safety, stating that large SUVs are more likely to kill children in accidents. He emphasized, "If you look at what the preliminary evidence is, large SUVs are more likely to kill a child." Specifically, he noted that children hit by large SUVs are 77% more likely to be killed, and those under nine years old face three times the risk of fatality. This data has become a primary source of concern prompting the proposed crackdown.
In a direct message to authorities, Khan said, "Yes, of course, I have an armoured vehicle. But if that's the evidence, I think it's a message I'll be sending to the police as well, saying actually, you do realise, God forbid, if you hit a child in an SUV, you're more likely to kill that child." He urged everyone, including ordinary Londoners and police, to consider these risks seriously.
Urban Design Challenges with SUVs
The mayor also pointed to practical issues caused by the increasing prevalence of SUVs in London. He instructed Transport for London (TfL) to assess the "impact across the piste" from these vehicles, noting a massive surge in purchases and usage despite the city's unsuitability for such large cars. Khan remarked, "There aren't many farms in London or off-road driving," questioning the necessity of SUVs in an urban environment.
He detailed specific problems, such as parking spaces being smaller than many large SUVs, leading to significant challenges. "We know, for example, some of our side roads simply aren't wide enough to have two vehicles going past each other, particularly if one of them is a larger SUV," Khan explained. In car parks, he added, large SUVs often occupy more than their allocated space, causing real-life inconveniences and safety hazards. Concluding, he stated, "London wasn't designed for large SUVs," underscoring the need for regulatory action.
Broader Implications for London Transport
This crackdown is part of a broader effort to rethink vehicle use in the capital, with potential new charges for big cars and a push towards more sustainable and safer transport options. By potentially giving up his armoured car, Mayor Khan aims to set a precedent, encouraging both public and private sectors to reconsider vehicle choices in light of safety data and urban infrastructure limitations.
