this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2025
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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 shouldnโ€™ be on our roads

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

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[โ€“] SirQuack@feddit.nl 7 points 2 days ago (7 children)

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.

[โ€“] Asetru@feddit.org 3 points 2 days ago (4 children)

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??

[โ€“] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 8 points 2 days ago (3 children)

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

[โ€“] Asetru@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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.

[โ€“] lgsp@feddit.it 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

EuroNCAP suggested to try to change something, apparently they are not catching in their test, but they acknowledge the issue

https://etsc.eu/calls-grow-to-address-safety-risks-of-large-vehicles-in-urban-areas/

Euro NCAP calls upon the vehicle industry to improve the vehicle crash compatibility of future models and not to accept settling for the status quo. It believes Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier testing can help manufacturers engineer their cars and vans to better protect occupants in the event of a head-on collision

[โ€“] Asetru@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago
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