The Labour Party government faces mounting pressure to introduce higher charges aimed at discouraging the rising number of SUVs and US-style pickup trucks on UK roads. Recent analysis by Clean Cities of Department for Transport data reveals a staggering 92% increase in registrations for the most popular pickup trucks over the past decade.
Currently, nearly 600,000 such vehicles (590,587) are registered across the UK, compared to 308,103 in 2014. Oliver Lord, UK head of Clean Cities, criticised the trend, stating, “This surge in US-style pickups prioritises lifestyle over practicality, resulting in parking chaos and heightened road danger. City authorities must intervene to reduce the presence of these imposing vehicles. How can we accept cars so tall that children become invisible to their drivers?”
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, echoed these concerns: “Pickup trucks are built like battering rams and emit pollution akin to chimneys. For children, this is a hazardous combo—hidden from view in front and toxic fumes at the rear. No parent wants their child exposed to such risks daily, yet these trucks continue to proliferate.”
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In response, Clean Cities has urged the Labour government to take swift action by introducing fairer parking charges that penalise larger, more dangerous vehicles and by increasing their tax contributions. Bath and North East Somerset Council has already initiated a consultation on raising parking permit fees for bigger cars, offering discounts for smaller vehicles as an incentive.
Councillor Joel Hirst commented: “We appreciate everyone who participated in the earlier consultation. Your feedback has helped us refine our proposals. We will now carefully evaluate the recommendations before proceeding with further consultation under the Traffic Regulation Order process.”