SUV Alliance goes to Parliament
We all need to get from A to B, and to access transport is a human right. But what that looks like is a political question, one that could be answered with active travel, public transport, and small electric vehicles, but unfortunately is currently answered with ever-bigger, ever-heavier sports utility vehicles: S.U.Vs.
SUVs made up 62% of new car sales in the UK in 2024, up from less than 5% at the start of the Millennium. Without action, SUVs could make up three-quarters of car sales by 2027, locking in a future of road fatalities, air pollution and car dominance totally at odds with the kind of sustainable transport future we all want to see.
On March 26th, the SUV Alliance took this message to Parliament with a reception at the House of Lords to formally launch our manifesto for safer, fairer streets.
The reception was hosted by Green Peer Jenny Jones and brought together national policymakers and representatives of local councils including Bristol, alongside campaigners and academics to catalyse action and to connect those working to stop the SUV arms race.
It was an excellent event, buzzing with ideas and energy for action. The SUV Alliance exists to hold this space and act as an umbrella for research, policy engagement and campaigns on SUVs, and to connect those working on this issue. If you’d like to know more about the Alliance then get in touch.
The reception opened with some brilliant speeches. We heard from:
Jenny Jones, who spoke about 25 years of campaigning for safer streets and the urgent need for action to tackle rising use of SUVs;
Rezina Chowdhury, a Labour Party councillor in Lambeth who spoke about what action local authorities can take and how Lambeth is leading the charge against heavier passenger vehicles;
Ruth Carlson, from the SUV Alliance, presented brand new research analysing road fatality statistics, demonstrating a powerful correlation between increased vehicle weight (typical of SUVs) and higher probability of fatality when that vehicle is involved in a crash;
Finally we heard from Jemima Hartshorn, director of Mums for Lungs, who spoke about the vicious cycle unleashed by SUVs. On the one hand they contribute to urban air pollution, which is especially bad for young people, making alternatives like active travel more urgently needed. On the other hand, rising numbers of SUVs make our roads unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, meaning more people opt to drive and more parents choose to put their kids in the back seat rather than risk them being vulnerable on the roads. This is the SUV arms race in action, and children are caught in the middle.
Twenty years ago, the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s challenged the role of presence passenger vehicles in our towns and cities. They called for higher taxes and restrictions on SUV advertising.
It’s encouraging to stand on the shoulders of giants, but daunting at the same time to reckon with the fact that we are now a full two decades behind the curve on this issue. The time for action is now.
Now not only in the face of the harms SUVs cause to people and planet, but now also in light of growing public discontent over increasing SUV use. A recent YouGov poll found that 61% of the UK population think SUVs are too big, and 59% see them as unnecessary in towns and cities.
Most surprisingly, a recent comment piece in the Hereford Times questioned the “moronic” use of large SUVs on narrow country lanes.
Taken together, we have a clear desire for change, away from ever-bigger, ever-heavier, ever more dangerous SUVs, and towards a future of safer, fairer streets for all.
Many thanks to all who attended and made the event such a rousing success.
