Higher parking fees for SUVs proposed to prevent ‘carspreading’ in London
The London Assembly has called on Sadiq Khan to take action against ‘carspreading’ in London by charging SUV drivers more for parking.
Carspreading refers to the phenomenon of vehicles getting steadily bigger over time, which the assembly said is resulting in damage to London’s roads, increased congestion, and causing danger to pedestrians and cyclists.
The Assembly agreed on a motion calling for the Mayor of London to give his support to curtailing this issue and pushing for interventions to discourage the parking and driving of overly large vehicles in the city.
It said the UK’s cars are becoming an average of 1cm bigger every two years and noted that 52% of cars sold today are too big to fit in minimum parking spaces. The streets of London are simply not built for larger vehicles like this, said Assembly Member Elly Baker.
“Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads.”
“It’s time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone,” she said.
Citing precedence in other major cities, such as the increased parking charges for heavier vehicles approved in Paris, the Assembly called on the Mayor of London to take the following actions:
- Write to the Department for Transport asking that they update vehicle regulations to introduce tighter limits on passenger vehicle size and bonnet height.
- Write to HM Treasury asking that they introduce a progressive tax on passenger vehicle weight into Vehicle Excise Duty.
- Write to London Councils asking them to explore the feasibility of boroughs charging higher parking charges to SUVs to account for pressure they put on road space and local parking spaces.
“SUVs are getting bigger with every passing year, creating congestion, taking up limited space on our streets and adding to road danger,” said Assembly Member Caroline Russell.
“We should be using every tool in the policy toolbox to tackle this harmful shift toward bulky and hazardous vehicles to keep Londoners safe on our city streets.”
