Drivers of popular vehicles could face tougher parking rules as part of new proposals to crack down on air pollution and road casualties across the UK.
It comes after research found that six out of 10 motorists have called for parking charges to triple for SUVs, which have become more common.
Two-fifths of drivers viewed SUVs as causing unnecessary congestion on UK roads, with an urgent response needed.
A further 31 per cent warned that larger vehicles excessively contribute to air pollution, while 17 per cent detailed how SUVs pose a danger to pedestrians.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Our findings show there is a pretty strong majority for people who want to discourage driving big SUVs in their cities because of their impact on the environment, traffic and pedestrian safety.”
He added that drivers want to see action taken that “actively discourages their owners from bringing them into these areas”.
In the UK, growing calls from campaigners have already proved effective, with Cardiff Council becoming the first region to tackle SUV parking with the introduction of new parking charges.
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities, a campaign calling for action against SUVs, said: “Cardiff is showing real vision by standing up to the SUV car spreading that’s taking over our streets.”
Clean Cities is one of the founding members of The SUV Alliance, which has been calling for changes to how larger vehicles are treated.
One of the campaign goals includes campaigning for changes in Vehicle Excise Duty to begin taxing SUVs and the heaviest and most polluting vehicles, as well as introducing higher parking charges.
Mr Lord explained that “it’s only fair that those driving the biggest, heaviest and most polluting vehicles pay more for the extra space and danger they bring”.
He said that this “common-sense policy” by Cardiff will ensure that city streets remain “safe, cleaner, and fair for everyone”.
The report into SUV usage also found that 37 per cent of drivers viewed there as being too many large vehicles on UK roads, which could cause pedestrian deaths.
However, the report did find that 28 per cent of respondents thought singling out certain vehicle types was wrong and that all cars should be treated the same.
An additional 13 per cent of motorists said they should be free to enter cities, whatever their car, with 10 per cent stating that SUVs were being unfairly targeted.
The proposals also call on the Government to follow European examples of tougher restrictions, with Paris residents voting last year to triple parking charges for large, heavy SUVs on the grounds of their impact on air pollution and climate change.
Dr Anna Goodman, an academic transport researcher and director of Transport for Quality of Life, who collaborated with Clean Cities, shared: “SUVs increasingly dominate our streets. In just two decades, the share of SUVs in English cities has grown tenfold.”
She warned that the problem is particularly prominent in London, where the number of SUVs has grown by around 720,000.
The expert stated that evidence of SUV road danger has been increasing for people walking and cycling, particularly for children.
“Many cities around the world are bringing in targeted measures to discourage SUV ownership and use, and early reports from Paris indicate that these measures can be successful,” she shared.