Rise of ‘carspreading’: concerns over oversized SUVs in UK cities
Comments Off on Rise of ‘carspreading’: concerns over oversized SUVs in UK citiesSource: Clean Cities Campaign
A growing concern over the proliferation of large SUVs in urban areas has sparked calls for higher taxes and parking charges to combat the phenomenon dubbed ‘carspreading.’
Campaigners argue that these oversized vehicles reduce available street space, increase congestion, and pose safety risks for cyclists and pedestrians.
Public concerns and survey findings
A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Clean Cities revealed that 71% of UK car owners believe an increase in SUVs will make parking more difficult, while 59% consider them unnecessary in towns and cities. Despite this, research indicates that three-quarters of SUVs sold in the UK are registered to urban residents.
Many of these vehicles exceed the dimensions of standard urban parking spaces, creating logistical challenges. Popular models such as the Ford Ranger Raptor, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and BMW X5/X6 all surpass the typical 1.8-meter width of on-street parking bays, exacerbating space limitations.
SUV sales on the rise
Despite these concerns, SUV sales reached record levels in 2024, accounting for 62% of new car purchases in the UK, up from 47% in 2020. Analysis by T&E UK shows that over 1.1 million SUVs were sold in 2024 alone, with larger models gaining popularity each year. Furthermore, 60% of UK car owners believe SUVs are more about status than practicality.
Policy proposals to curb ‘Carspreading’
Clean Cities and The SUV Alliance, a coalition of 14 environmental and transport advocacy groups, have proposed a five-point plan to regulate oversized SUVs:
- Adjusting Vehicle Excise Duty to impose higher taxes on larger and more polluting vehicles.
- Implementing size restrictions for new car sales by 2030 to ensure vehicles fit within urban parking spaces.
- Following Edinburgh’s example by banning SUV advertisements.
- Requiring automakers to publish an ‘ecoscore’ for all new electric vehicles.
- Allowing local authorities to introduce higher parking charges for SUVs and other heavy vehicles.
International precedents and public engagement
Paris provides a case study for effective regulation, as recent measures tripling parking fees for SUVs have reduced their use of surface parking by two-thirds. Inspired by such initiatives, Clean Cities has urged the public to share examples of ‘carspreading’ on social media using the hashtag #carspreading.
Jillian Anable, Professor of Transport & Energy at the University of Leeds, expressed concerns about the long-term impact of oversized SUVs: “I believe we will look back with disbelief at how we allowed larger and larger vehicles to take hold. SUVs require more land to park them on, more materials to produce them with, more road space to drive them along and more fuel to travel the equivalent distance by smaller vehicles. Even electric and hybrid SUVs will delay the transition to Net Zero as their larger batteries require more electricity.”
As debates around urban mobility continue, policymakers face increasing pressure to address the growing presence of oversized SUVs and its implications for space, safety, and sustainability in UK cities.
