The Supersizing of Personnel Transport

Alexander Hurst reckons the trend for ever-bigger Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV's),is an ecological disaster (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/16/paris-us-size-cars-europe-emissions-suvs-france). The average weight of a new car in the US, is 2000 kg (more than 4,300 lbs), This is an increase of 1000 lbs since 1980. Hurst claims that, without the trend for bigger SUVs, vehicle 'greenhouse gas' emissions would have fallen between 2010 and 2022. Heavier SUVs are also more dangerous. In the US, car crash deaths rose 33% between 2011 and 2021. Since 2010, the number of pedestrian deaths also increased by 77%. Hurst, who lives and works in France, notes that the mayor of Paris is tripling the parking rates for SUVs in the city centre. This increase will apply to hybrids and Electric Vehicles (EV's), over specified weights. Although EV's don't produce the emissions of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars, building supersized vehicles does require more metal and running them needs more charge. The increased rates will not, however, apply to residents in central Paris. Hurst suggests that progressive taxes must be applied more widely to SUVs. Regulation is needed, to turn the car industry back to smaller, safer and less-polluting vehicles.