Why the Boom in Oversized Cars is Negatively Impacting City Life
Large Sport Utility Vehicles Contribute to Congested Traffic and Pose Higher Risks Compared to Standard Automobiles
Today's vehicles are beyond immense in size compared to decades past. Consider the Ford F150 truck, which has expanded a staggering 75cm in length, 20 cm in height, and gained an astounding 483 kg in weight since 1991. It's not an isolated case; the trend of 'supersizing' can be seen across the automotive industry.
SUVs and light truck vehicles (LTVs) are the prime examples of this trend, growing in popularity at an astonishing pace. In the US, eight out of the top 10 passenger vehicles sold in the current year belong to this vehicle class. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, no less than nine of 2024's top sellers were either SUVs or LTVs, often referred to as 'utes' in that region. In 2023, SUVs accounted for a whopping 48% of new car sales - a tremendous increase from the mere 15% rate in 2010.
Despite their allure, oversized vehicles offer numerous downsides and pitfalls. By far, the most pressing issue is their environmental impact. Road transport is responsible for 15% of all global CO emissions, and these larger vehicles play a major role in that statistic[5]. SUVs and LTVs, if ranked as a country, would be the world's fifth-largest CO emitter, surpassing the emissions of Japan and other major economies[6]. Moreover, the International Energy Agency found that due to their heavier weight, an SUV that operates on petrol or diesel emits 20% more CO than an average-sized car[5]. Given CO's role as the primary contributor to global warming, adding more SUVs to the fleet seems counterintuitive.
Electric SUVs and LTVs are not entirely innocent parties either. These vehicles, like all road vehicles, produce vast amounts of tire emissions - tiny particles of rubber and other materials that tires release as they wear down. These tire particles have been found to enter waterways[7], and even the smallest ones can become airborne and pose various threats to human health and the environment. Naturally, larger, heavier vehicles tend to produce more of this particulate pollution.
Delving beyond environmental concerns still paints an unattractive picture of oversized vehicles. In the recent weeks, two research papers have been released from separate fields, with no researchers in common. Both studies examined SUVs and light trucks and reached the same ominous conclusion: these large vehicles are negatively impacting urban life.
Firstly, traffic is suffering from an results from an increase in sizeable vehicles sharing our roads. A new study, published in the journal Transportmetrica A, found that this rising number of large vehicles is exacerbating traffic congestion[8]. Data from the Minneapolis-St. Paul freeway network between 1995 and 2019 showed that over the study period, average network throughput decreased from approximately 1850 vehicles per lane per hour to about 1600. Correspondingly, the number of SUVs on Twin Cities' freeways skyrocketed almost tenfold, rising from 3.65% of all highway vehicles in 1995 to 30.8% in 2019.
When asked why SUVs reduce throughput, Serge Levinson (a Professor at the University of Sydney) explains, "Well, first, there's their physical size - they literally take up more space on the road, and it takes them longer to brake because of mass and momentum." Additionally, due to their taller profile, vehicles following SUVs tend to provide more distance, further impacting traffic flow[8].
Secondly, oversized vehicles pose a substantial threat to public safety due to their heft and design. Studies indicate that SUVs are statistically less safe compared to other vehicles. Although they may offer a perceived boost in passenger safety, this only partially holds true. The reality is that they are more prone to rolling over in any crash, increasing the risk of serious injury to their occupants[9].
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London found that SUVs and LTVs are associated with greater severity of injuries to pedestrians and cyclists in road accidents. This risk escalates significantly for children, with a child struck by a SUV being 82% more likely to be killed than a child struck by a standard-sized car[9].
This study supports the decision by numerous cities, including Paris and Edinburgh, to implement measures discouraging the use of SUVs and LTVs, such as increased parking charges for heavier cars. Moreover, cities are considering similar measures, while others have introduced ad bans for high-carbon products, such as SUVs[10]. The success of these actions strongly suggests that measures need to be taken to limit the use of these vehicles in urban environments for the sake of traffic flow and public safety alike.
In summary, the rise of oversized vehicles comes with a plethora of unintended consequences, most notably increased environmental pollution, exacerbated traffic congestion, and enhanced dangers to public safety. As cities move to combat these issues through various measures, the time has come to reconsider the enchantment of these vehicles and take action to ensure a safer, more livable urban environment.
Insight
The studies mentioned in this article serve to highlight the negative consequences of the ever-growing popularity of oversized vehicles, specifically SUVs and LTVs, in urban environments. In addition to their contribution to environmental pollution, these vehicles pose threats to public safety and traffic congestion[8][9][11]. Efforts to mitigate these effects include re-examining safety regulations concerning SUVs[3], enhancing urban planning to promote safer, denser road networks and public transportation [4], and implementing measures disincentivizing the use of these large vehicles in cities[10].
The ongoing surge of car sales, particularly SUVs, illustrates the need for a shift towards more sustainable, eco-friendly vehicle options and intelligent urban planning to foster a safer, more efficient, and environmentally-friendly urban environment.
- The trend of 'supersizing' in the automotive industry is evident, with SUVs and light truck vehicles (LTVs) expanding in popularity.
- In 2023, SUVs accounted for 48% of new car sales, a significant increase from 15% in 2010.
- Oversized vehicles, such as SUVs and LTVs, are major contributors to road transport's CO emissions, which account for 15% of all global CO emissions.
- When ranked as a country, SUVs and LTVs would be the world's fifth-largest CO emitter, surpassing the emissions of Japan and other major economies.
- The International Energy Agency found that due to their heavier weight, an SUV emits 20% more CO than an average-sized car.
- Studies indicate that SUVs increase traffic congestion, as their physical size and weight render them less efficient on city roads.
- Researchers found that SUVs are statistically less safe compared to other vehicles, posing a substantial threat to public safety due to their heft and design.
