SUVs: As Paris Ramps Up Parking Fees, I’d Like a Total Ban!
Dangerous, polluting, menacing
The City of Paris, France, has announced that charges will be tripled for anyone wanting to park their SUVs in the capital, at the cost of 200 Euro per vehicle. This is part of a transition to make the city more bicycle-friendly.
Those in favour of the changes say they want to keep these large cars out of the city because they’re polluting and dangerous. Motoring organisations are objecting, but it looks like it’s going through.
I would like to see something similar in the UK. In fact, I’d like to go a step further and have off-road vehicles banned from sale in the UK to anyone who doesn’t have a farm, trailer, or other legitimate reason for needing one.
I have a knee injury caused by someone driving an off-road vehicle. They drove into the back of our little car, while we were waiting to pull out at a roundabout. They weren’t right behind us when we stopped at the junction. It wasn’t that we surprised them by stopping suddenly.
They literally drove a couple of hundred yards up the slip road into the back of our car before they even noticed we were there! They noticed because they’d hit us. It’s just as well we weren’t pedestrians, or we’d be dead.
It’s just as well we weren’t pedestrians, or we’d be dead.
The owners of these vehicles say they feel safe and invulnerable on the road, but the people they drive into aren’t invulnerable.
These vehicles — some with big bars on the front — are capable of doing a lot more damage to standard cars and their occupants than a typical saloon, all while leaving the driver of the killing machine unhurt.
There are no consequences for driving badly, except for higher insurance premiums. Unless they actually kill someone. Then there are consequences, but even these prosecutions carry much lighter sentences than other forms of murder.
These beastly machines are an obvious greater risk to cyclists and pedestrians, too. Yet, they are considered a status symbol by people looking to impress their peers.
The accident in my case was nearly 20 years ago, and I may need surgery as the condition of the injured knee has deteriorated recently. I seem to be managing it, but would rather not have to!
As for people using these monstrosities on the roads — I’m in agreement with the authorities in Paris: people who want to drive them should pay more to park them.
Perhaps it’s time for a similar scheme in London. Or better still, an outright ban — at least on the larger ones!
© Susie Kearley 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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