SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians, UK study finds
Summary
A study in the UK found that warning people about the risks SUVs pose to pedestrians and cyclists has very little effect on whether they choose to buy an SUV. The researchers suggest that financial penalties might be needed to reduce the number of these large vehicles on the road.Key Facts
- SUVs are more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists because of their higher and blunter front ends.
- Pedestrians hit by SUVs are 44% more likely to die than if hit by smaller cars; this risk rises to 82% for children.
- Over 2,000 people in the UK were shown SUV ads, some with safety warnings and some without.
- Safety awareness rose from 35% to 54% among those who saw the warnings.
- Despite this, 95% of people who wanted to buy an SUV still planned to do so after seeing the warnings.
- Even people who care about road user safety mostly still chose SUVs.
- Researchers say social habits around car use make it hard to change behavior without strong measures.
- Some cities, like Paris, have started charging more for parking SUVs to discourage their use due to safety and pollution concerns.
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