SUVs ARE AN environmental and social scourge. Whether we ban them in urban areas outright, as is being proposed in Germany, or we introduce new forms of taxation to regulate their weight, height and width, something must be done to stop the trend of excessively large passenger cars dominating our streets.
SUVs are not like the traditional car. Their designs are often aggressive and intimidating, and their marketing sells no-limits individualism which is exactly the opposite of what is needed to reduce climate impacts and related energy and resources equitably. This is because SUVs use far more energy than medium sized cars. Petrol or diesel SUVs for example consume roughly 20% more oil, and electric SUVs use more electricity which can be as much as 60% higher.‘It’s ok, I drive an electric SUV’ Electric SUVs also require more critical raw materials for their larger batteries, plus more steel, plastic, rubber etc. And since more power is needed, re-charging electric SUVs adds to overall electricity consumption.
Dangerous to others There are also major road safety concerns about the design of SUVs. A US study compared SUVs and regular cars in real-world cyclist crashes and found that SUVs were disproportionately likely to throw bicyclists forward onto the ground and inflict injury by running them over. Tyres targeted It is no wonder that the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis may lead some individuals to feel frustrated and desperate, believing that more radical actions are necessary than polite letters to the government.
Many supporters of climate action would likely reject and condemn the actions of Tyre Extinguishers, emphasising the importance of nonviolence, legality, and maintaining public support. However, the climate action movement is broad and diverse, and it is crucial to recognise that climate action requires a range of strategies and approaches.