Maybe we should tax them a lot. It’s disgusting that these monstrosities are even allowed.
Thanks Rutte!
I’d also add a max vehicle tonnage. I’d not limit it to urban areas but everywhere.
Or easier, prohibit these cars altogether. If I even have to argue it that way, the prohibition would protect the car industry also from those megacars (which take up more parking spaces, leading to fewer car possibilities, and endangering bicyclists and drivers alike).
Perhaps you are concerned about the safety element of excessive mass. There’s also the fact that vehicles damage roads proportional to (IIRC) the cube (or fourth power?) of their weight per axle. I think that an annual fee based on the mileage times the cube of the weight per axle would be perfectly appropriate, fair, and have the effect of causing business owners to use the absolute lightest vehicle that meets their needs.
A max vehicle tonnage won’t work since you need to exempt trucks and delivery vans (or change a couple of things drastically). So you could say that when something is used for work/delivery they are exempt and all others have a max tonnage. But since these guys buy and register it as a work vehicle, they will not be hit by the max tonnage.
Maybe an easier one would be mandating that cars should not be allowed to have open-air transport areas, for safety reasons such as transport not sticking out, pedestrian safety, and so on. Since it’s possible to stick out with those pickups, that automatically prohibits cars
What also can be added, is abolishing the lease for SUVs altogether, and prohibiting the import and building of those that are taller, longer, wider, and heavier than certain dimensions (say 4 by 1.8 by 1.5 m), even for work.
Mandate that people sell them. Those who bought the SUVs before 1 January 2025, then can get a subsidy of 25% off for the new car, if it’s more energy efficient, smaller and lighter, and doesn’t have an open rear. Or, they can get 50% off for a bike (electric, transport, or whatever, but no fatbike).
With those pickup trucks, they have a large open back. The open back can be considered part of the car itself. If you put a long plank on there, it can stick out, and that’s deadly for other drivers and pedestrians.
With vans, it can only ever be enclosed, and that’s safer.
Or alternatively, tax cars according to length/height/width, tonnage, energy efficiency, and % space left unused. Obviously, the car also has to adhere to safety regulations before being allowed on the road.
The smaller the car, the lower the tonnage, the more energy efficient, the better.
For space usage, you could say that it needs to have space for 2-6 passengers, all having seats with enough leg space. The ‘storage’ space may not take up more than 20% of the car’s inner volume, and must be fully covered.
We also need to look at the supply chains and see what would incentivise car companies to support these moves.
Maybe we should tax them a lot. It’s disgusting that these monstrosities are even allowed.
Thanks Rutte!
I’d also add a max vehicle tonnage. I’d not limit it to urban areas but everywhere.
Or easier, prohibit these cars altogether. If I even have to argue it that way, the prohibition would protect the car industry also from those megacars (which take up more parking spaces, leading to fewer car possibilities, and endangering bicyclists and drivers alike).
Perhaps you are concerned about the safety element of excessive mass. There’s also the fact that vehicles damage roads proportional to (IIRC) the cube (or fourth power?) of their weight per axle. I think that an annual fee based on the mileage times the cube of the weight per axle would be perfectly appropriate, fair, and have the effect of causing business owners to use the absolute lightest vehicle that meets their needs.
A max vehicle tonnage won’t work since you need to exempt trucks and delivery vans (or change a couple of things drastically). So you could say that when something is used for work/delivery they are exempt and all others have a max tonnage. But since these guys buy and register it as a work vehicle, they will not be hit by the max tonnage.
Would imposing a limit on the ratio of useable volume/volume be reasonable ? Or hight off the road?
I don’t want fewer of these beasts, I want them gone. They are absurdly dangerous with no net benefit (offroading? Seriously??)
Maybe an easier one would be mandating that cars should not be allowed to have open-air transport areas, for safety reasons such as transport not sticking out, pedestrian safety, and so on. Since it’s possible to stick out with those pickups, that automatically prohibits cars
What also can be added, is abolishing the lease for SUVs altogether, and prohibiting the import and building of those that are taller, longer, wider, and heavier than certain dimensions (say 4 by 1.8 by 1.5 m), even for work.
Mandate that people sell them. Those who bought the SUVs before 1 January 2025, then can get a subsidy of 25% off for the new car, if it’s more energy efficient, smaller and lighter, and doesn’t have an open rear. Or, they can get 50% off for a bike (electric, transport, or whatever, but no fatbike).
But it’s possible to stick out from any car? I think I am not understanding correctly what you mean
With those pickup trucks, they have a large open back. The open back can be considered part of the car itself. If you put a long plank on there, it can stick out, and that’s deadly for other drivers and pedestrians.
With vans, it can only ever be enclosed, and that’s safer.
That would ban all pickup trucks but still allow huge SUVs with similar build. I don’t think that would solve much of the problem
Maybe then the tonnage, length/height/width too?
Or alternatively, tax cars according to length/height/width, tonnage, energy efficiency, and % space left unused. Obviously, the car also has to adhere to safety regulations before being allowed on the road.
The smaller the car, the lower the tonnage, the more energy efficient, the better.
For space usage, you could say that it needs to have space for 2-6 passengers, all having seats with enough leg space. The ‘storage’ space may not take up more than 20% of the car’s inner volume, and must be fully covered.
We also need to look at the supply chains and see what would incentivise car companies to support these moves.