The effect of super-sized passenger vehicles on walking and cycling

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Passenger vehicles are putting on weight world-wide. We aim to estimate the effects of this trend on the safety and attractiveness of walking and cycling in cities, focussing especially on the spectacular rise of the light truck (known as a double cab ute in New Zealand). METHODS: Review of relevant literature, analysis of secondary data sets including new vehicle sales, the New Zealand Household Travel Survey and manufacturer data sheets, police crash data, thematic analysis of advertising and product promotion, ad hoc roadside survey. RESULTS:Light truck and SUV sales are increasing rapidly in most countries. Mostly these vehicles are promoted for carrying, towing and exploring off road. Travel surveys show that in fact most trips are not work-related and do not require special towing and carrying capacity. On the whole these vehicles seldom go off-road but are commonly used in cities for car-like trips, with higher emissions of NOx and CO2. With increasing mass and power, injury rates amongst occupants are falling, but the risk to other road users may be increasing: a pedestrian struck at ≥50 kph by a ute or SUV in New Zealand is 2.3 times more likely to be fatally injured than if struck by a car. The most popular ute in New Zealand (the Ford Ranger) occupies 30% more road space than the most popular car, and therefore more commonly obstructs footpaths and bike lanes and leaves a smaller gap when passing on narrow city streets. CONCLUSIONS:Passenger vehicles in New Zealand and many other countries are super-sizing: increased pollution, greater injury risk, and domination of road space make it even more difficult to promote walking and cycling in cities. KEYWORDS: active transport, physical activity, injury