4 x 4s hit by Richmond Council with higher parking charges

LizEstelle

Any comments?

My own reaction is: At last, somebody doing SOMETHING!

rosscobley

i think the same

I live in the valleys in wales up on top of a mountain and i dont need a 4x4 (well unless it snows) So why the hell do people need them in the city. there is no point what so ever. Most of them are rubbish off road anyway

Only problem is if you can afford to buy one you can afford to pay the extra tax so i dont think it will change much

PabloNeruda

Let's hope this is rolled out nationwide.

rosscobley

I have nothing against them. A mate has a disco and a landrover 90 but these get used off road so they have a use. just dont know why you need them in a city

livinginhope

Why can't people just be left alone to drive what they please ,why should someone who pays MORE road tax and pays council tax,be made to pay more to park in their own road? they have as much right to park there as anyone else.
I want to add that the headlines were 'gas guzzlers' this isn't limited to 4x4 cars,but for some unknown reason society is being conditioned to hate the
4x4.

gazhawkins

One reason a lot of folks drive 4x4's in cities is because local councils insist upon spending large sums of council tax building speed humps. These tend to damage normal car suspensions over time, even if driven at normal speeds - hence the popularity of 4x4's as their suspensions can cope.

The speed humps cause noise pollution and increased fuel consumption/CO2 emissions as everyone brakes/accelerates, not to mention a lot of grief for the disabled, folks with back injuries and the emergency services.

Of course, automotive industry marketing is pretty effective too - a lot of folks believe you are safer in an SUV/4x4 in an accident but not a lot of these vehicles have NCAP 5* ratings do they?

Given that you're already charged for parking your vehicle on the road, based on its CO2 emissions (ie road tax) - it's a bit rich to be charged again, on the same basis by your local council, for a parking permit. Another case of double taxation - like paying VAT on top of fuel duty.

I should hasten to add that I don't drive a 4x4: nor would I want to. Cost more to buy, more to tax, more to insure and in most cases, use more fuel and are dearer on parts.

It's a free country though and if you want one, then why not? You could always buy a hybrid Lexus 4x4 and confuse the hell out of the councils, Ken Livingstone and Friends of the Earth.

Seesaw_2

You have crash on the m25 in a Peugeot 205 (when a van hits you at 60 mph when you are in a traffic jam stopped) and then tell me I am wrong to drive the 4x4 !

I now have 2 children - tell me again why I shouldn't drive a 4x4 ?

I also have a Newfie and a Lab - what should I drive ?

What do I drive ? a VW transporter - why DO people buy people carriers ??

Did have a 4x4 but petrol prices too prohibitive - don't agree at all with the anti- 4x4 brigade

ManAtHome

Well, they're a minority so fair game for our Tabloid govt...

I don't like SUVs - very selfish, one person's "excellent view from the driving seat" is several person's "what the hell is happening in front", but all this is damn all to do with being Green. Remind me again, which govt has bottled out of increasing fuel taxes for the last few years?

Ted_Hutchinson

Seesaw wrote:

- tell me again why I shouldn't drive a 4 x4

They are more dangerous both to those in them and other road users.

A 4x4 is twice as likely to be involved in a fatal rollover as an ordinary car

If a pedestrian is hit by a 4x4 they are twice as likely to be killed.

In a side-impact collision with a 4x4, a car driver is around 4 times more likely to be killed than if they were hit by another car.

Round here folks in 4X4 think they are invulnerable and because they think they are safe in their armour plating, behave as if other people didn't matter. They therefore adopt more risky driver behaviours than would be otherwise the case.

4 x 4s have larger blind spots and therefore are the drivers are more likely to be involved in running over children when reversing.

PS Many people think 4X4 Owners are morons so you will avoid being thought an idiot.

PabloNeruda

I would urge people to sign this petition.....

http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/

There is also merchandise available to purchase - I have one of the t-shirts which I enjoy wearing in front of the mums on the schoolrun.

PabloNeruda

albertross wrote:

So are buses, lorries, white vans, why pick on 4x4's?

Because a lorry NEEDS to carry goods.
A bus NEEDS to carry passengers.
A van NEEDS to carry goods.
An urban 4x4 driver simply NEEDS to show off his/her latest fashion accessory / status symbol*

*delete as appropriate.