Civil society calls on the EU to limit new car dimensions by 2035
etsc.eu
More than 30 civil society organisations have called on the European Commission to initiate work on a legislative proposal to set limits on the dimensions of new passenger cars by 2035 (particularly…

30 associations are proposing to the European Commission to impose a limit on the size of new cars, in particular the total width and bonnet.

A report connected with this request showed that the average bonnet height of newly-sold cars in Europe is increasing by 0.5 cm a year.

Many studies showed that bigger cars and higher bonnets are related to more collisions, and worse outcome for pedestrians and cyclists (and those in smaller cars), especially in regards to children

Those SUVs are kid crushers, they shouldn’ be on our roads

crossposed from: https://mastodon.uno/users/rivoluzioneurbanamobilita/statuses/114674420551539891

  • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
    8·
    2 days ago

    Hm. Don’t know.

    This one?

    Yeah, can be banned.

    But this one?

    Don’t know. While it’s a fair bit shorter than an f150, it’s still a big-ass car. But is it an unethical car? It fits a lot of stuff or a lot of people or a fair amount of both, but I guess the same thing is true for the f150. Visibility is much better I guess, but would pick ups be more moral if they had a lower hood?

    Like, yeah, I hate pick ups, too, but what’s their defining aspect? What’s the law that gets rid of large SUVs but keeps station wagons? Or is the law just going to get rid of all larger cars?

    I’m not trying to argue against the idea of banning dick comparison cars, this is a genuine question.

    • SirQuack@feddit.nlEnglish
      7·
      1 day ago

      What’s the law that gets rid of large SUVs but keeps station wagons? Or is the law just going to get rid of all larger cars?

      We’ve had station wagons for a very long time now. A big Ford Mondeo we had was a relatively low car, without an enormous bonnet.

      Cars continue to get wider, longer and higher off the ground (there’s this Kia that looks like you’re driving around in a fridge), whilst the stuff we move within them isn’t exactly increasing. it’s just bigger for the sake of being bigger, and that’s causing issues in the streets.

      • CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        4·
        1 day ago

        it’s just bigger for the sake of being bigger

        Not true for every car. Small cars get bigger, too, but because nowadays there are way more safety features built in. Side impact protection needs space, too, for example. Also, especially smaller cars get more roomy and comfortable, too (except the Twingo, for some reason).
        That being said: fuck SUVs and trucks. They’re much bigger than they need to be and just status symbols.

      • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
        3·
        1 day ago

        We’ve had station wagons for a very long time now. A big Ford Mondeo we had was a relatively low car, without an enormous bonnet.

        Cars continue to get wider, longer and higher off the ground (there’s this Kia that looks like you’re driving around in a fridge), whilst the stuff we move within them isn’t exactly increasing. it’s just bigger for the sake of being bigger, and that’s causing issues in the streets.

        You are missing my point. To turn this into a law, there need to be clear rules of what is or isn’t allowed.

        The Kia you’re talking about is this one I guess? The EV5?

        Unfortunately, the size comparison site I used doesn’t have that, but it is apparently similar to their “Sportage” SUV, so I took the long wheel base version of that one to compare it against your old Mondeo…

        … which is longer than the SUV…

        … and only 5cm less wide …

        whilst the stuff we move within them isn’t exactly increasing

        … and has much less cargo volume.

        So, what kind of rules do you come up with to get rid of the one but not the other? Height? Then what about the vans? And how is height making a car more or less unethical?

        So far, the 3.5 ton weight limit seems to have worked well for keeping the most ridiculous American cars off European streets. But it seems that’s not enough, so what other rules could be used to define which cars shouldn’t be allowed to drive around? It’s obviously not weight because we already have that. It’s apparently not the size because despite most arguments, SUVs aren’t always much bigger than other cars that are usually perceived as fine. So what is it??

        • real_squids@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          8·
          1 day ago

          Bonnet height, as the article suggests. Or do the responsible thing and measure front visibility, so you don’t hit vans in the process.

          • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
            2·
            1 day ago

            But isn’t that already part of regulations 78/2009 and 2019/2144?

            I mean, I’m all for it, but if it’s just that it seems the goal is to get more detailed regulations for the bonnet then that’s great, but I fail to see how that would get rid of SUVs or other larger cars.

            Also don’t misunderstand me there… Reducing bonnet height to protect pedestrians on impact is a good thing and should be done. I just don’t think it’d reduce car weight or size, so if that’s the goal then it won’t help.

      • BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        It’s utterly bizarre, I’m looking to replace a Mondeo estate some time in the next couple of years. Frankly, SUVs are not a viable alternative - they have no boot space, they are less functional by a long chalk in that regard.

    • lgsp@feddit.it@feddit.itOPEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      But is it an unethical car? It fits a lot of stuff or a lot of people or a fair amount of both, but I guess the same thing is true for the f150. Visibility is much better I guess, but would pick ups be more moral if they had a lower hood?

      some thoughts about your post

      • nobody would buy a van if not in need, because it’s not cool, it costs more etc. So you would end up having less big vehicles on the road. There is no need to regulate too much something that is numerically not important
      • the hood height for the van is lower and visibility is better: you can find a lot of studies that connect the former with less killings and less serious injuries and the latter with less collisions, so definitely less dangerous
      • i actually think that if pickups had lower hoods, they would be more moral, yes, because they would be less dangerous. (see above)
      • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago
        • i actually think that if pickups had lower hoods, they would be more moral, yes, because they would be less dangerous. (see above)

        Fair point. I agree.

        I always assumed that the bonnet height was one of the reasons why you couldn’t really drive one of those in Europe anyway. But if that’s not the case then yes, adjusting that should be done.

        (Also I drive a van and I think it’s cool since obviously I’m cool and so my car kinda has to be, too, so I’m not sure if I agree with your first point.)

        • lgsp@feddit.it@feddit.itOPEnglish
          2·
          1 day ago

          Also I drive a van and I think it’s cool since obviously I’m cool and so my car kinda has to be, too, so I’m not sure if I agree with your first point

          sorry, my mistakes. Vans can be absolutely cool. I think the electric one from VW is extremely cool. It’s just not the kind of cool that people with fragile masculinity would desire