Cardiff Council has announced that it is voting [16 October] on plans to tackle heavier vehicles taking up space by implementing fairer parking charges.
The council published its ‘The City Parking Plan’ report that delves into the city’s vision for parking over the course of the next ten years.
The report states that evidence shows that larger vehicles pose a far greater risk to vulnerable road users.
Additionally, children are three times more likely to be killed in a collision with an SUV than a regular car, according to a recent study by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The report went on to recommend that a surcharge for vehicles over 2,400kg Revenue Weight be introduced to encourage drivers to switch to smaller vehicles.
In time, this will be reduced to 2,000kg (for non-electric vehicles). Very large vehicles (vehicles over 3,500kg Revenue Weight) will not be entitled to permits.
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Clean Cities are one of the founder members of The SUV Alliance, a campaign made up of a coalition of 19 environmental and transport groups.
The Alliance has published a manifesto calling for changes to Vehicle Excise Duty to tax SUVs and the heaviest and most polluting vehicles more when they are sold and allowing local authorities to introduce higher parking charges on SUVs and other heavier, more polluting vehicles.
UK Head of Clean Cities, Oliver Lord, said: “Cardiff is showing real vision by standing up to the SUV car spreading that’s taking over our streets.
“It’s only fair that those driving the biggest, heaviest and most polluting vehicles pay more for the extra space and danger they bring.
This is a common-sense policy that will make our city streets safer, cleaner and fairer for everyone. Other cities across the UK could learn from Cardiff’s leadership.”
Achievements and innovations in safe transport planning will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
