Eloise Sacares

UK’s SUV Surge is Driving Up Road Risk and Costs - will HM Treasury… Europe’s leading advocates for clean transport & energy

This is why we’re calling for the government to introduce a simple Large Vehicle Levy on these cars, to help to close this gap while raising almost 2 billion annually for public services from next year.

You can find out more information on SUV sales and our Large Vehicle Levy campaign here ⬇️

Yet the UK acts a tax haven for these cars, with UK buyers paying just £3,200 in tax on a luxury SUV such as the BMW X5, while a French buyer would pay 20 times more.

More SUVs means more pollution, more safety risks, and more road wear. The data shows:

- SUV causes 16 times more road damage than a one-tonne car
- SUVs consume around 20% more fuel than an average medium-size non-SUV car
- Pedestrian fatality risks increase by 82% for children and 44% for adults

The shift to electric vehicles is also dominated by SUVs; they now represent 71% of new battery electric vehicle registrations, up from 43% in 2021.​

SUVs now make up a majority of sales all powertrains - from petrol and diesel to hybrids and even battery electric vehicles.

Data from the first half of this year shows two-thirds of all new cars sold now are classified as SUVs, increasing from 51% to 66% over the last four years.

What’s been happening with SUV sales in the UK? 🚘

SUV sales have continued to grow in the UK market this year - meaning more emissions, safety risks and road wear, and less space on our roads for pedestrians and communities 📈

Earlier this week T&E UK launched the Houses of Carliament, a pop-up event where politicians across parties stopped by to talk about the Large Vehicle Levy. 🧵

@transenvuk.bsky.social

⏰ Yesterday’s ‘Houses of Carliament’ event for our Large Vehicle Levy was a great success, with strong engagement from MPs and fellow advocates.

💰 The proposed levy aims to generate approximately £2 bill annually by ensuring heavier vehicles pay their fair share of road taxes.

#HousesOfCarliament

Thank you so much to everyone that came by and to colleagues at T&E UK and Serious People for all their hard work on this event.

Now to continue our work campaigning for the Large Vehicle Levy!

💰 Our Large Vehicle Levy would raise 2 billion by taxing oversized luxury SUVs while protecting typical family cars.

🛣️ This extra £2 billion could be spent on helping low income families access EVs, increased safety provisions, and fixing the potholes caused by large vehicles.

🚗 We showed how cars have got bigger over time - with sales now dominated by oversized SUVs. These cars are more dangerous to pedestrians, cause greater road wear, and are significantly more polluting than their smaller alternatives.

Earlier this week T&E UK launched the Houses of Carliament, a pop-up event where politicians across parties stopped by to talk about the Large Vehicle Levy. 🧵

@transenvuk.bsky.social

🚘 Join T&E UK tomorrow at the ‘Houses of Carliament’ from 11am to 3pm at Old Palace Yard, Westminster 🚘

We'll explore the issue of increasing vehicle size - by displaying 3 contrasting vehicles outside Parliament. We'll also show how a Large Vehicle Levy can raise 2 billion for public services 💰

Really important report today on flood resilience - drawing on @eloisesacares.bsky.social report on climate adaptation for the @thefabians.bsky.social

Great to be part of this vital enquiry on flood resilience.

This was one of my favourite reports I worked on at @thefabians.bsky.social. Climate adaptation (alongside critical action to meet emissions targets) is key to ensuring the most vulnerable are protected from suffering the worst impacts.

Great to see @eloisesacares.bsky.social's latest report, ‘Ill-Prepared’, featured in the Mirror.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

We urge the government to create a new opt-out sickness insurance for the self-employed, funded by workers and engagers, alongside other vital reforms.

Much more to come in the upcoming report from @thefabians.bsky.social !

Self-employed workers without sick pay are 'illness away from financial ruin' A new report out urges the government to introduce a sickness insurance system for the self-employed, and end the “threadbare support system” that leaves them without security

Brilliant to see my upcoming report on sick pay for the self employed covered in the Mirror today.

Self-employed workers currently stand to lose 81 per cent of their income if they fall sick, leaving many in precarious situations.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

This is my penultimate publication before moving on from the Fabians, so it’s amazing to see such strong engagement with the report.

Now onto my final publication on sick pay for the self-employed…

5. Mandate all 600 large food businesses to commit to the food waste reduction roadmap, rather than relying on voluntary commitments.

You can view the full report and its recommendations here:

fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...

3. Abolish VAT for building refurbishments and repairs to level the playing field with new builds.

4. Ensure the National Wealth Fund invests in infrastructure for large scale critical mineral recycling, stimulating further private sector investment.

We suggest that the government should:

1. Introduce a target for England to reduce raw material use to under 8 tonnes per person by 2050.

2. Introduce a cap on repair prices to create a true ‘right to repair’ for consumers.

The report explores practical steps to cut waste and scale up the circular economy in England.

With the UK’s material footprint now at its highest level since 2008—and nearly three times what the UN deems sustainable—the forthcoming circular economy strategy is a vital chance to turn the tide.

Delighted to see that my recent report ‘Repair, Reuse, Recycle’ was the second most read think tank report in August, according to @smartthinking.bsky.social ‘s monthly newsletter!

Repair, reuse, recycle | Fabian Society Fabian Society

You can read ‘Repair, Reuse, Recycle - Making The Circular Economy in England Work At Scale’ here ⬇️

fabians.org.uk/publication/...

🔁 Invest in infrastructure for large scale critical mineral recycling, stimulating further private sector investment

🥫Mandate all large businesses to sign up to the food waste roadmap, rather than relying on voluntary commitments

🔧 Introduce a cap on repair prices within ‘right to repair’ legislation 

 🏗️ Abolish VAT for building refurbishments and repairs to level the playing field with new build.

The report sets out several policies that would help turn the tide and should be included in the upcoming circular economy strategy.

The government could:

🎯 Introduce a target for England to reduce raw material use to under eight tonnes per person by 2050

But several factors have held back progression to a more circular economy, including a lack of political prioritisation by successive governments, a lack of clear targets, and a lack of financial incentives 💵

Developing a more circular economy, where waste is reduced and materials stay in circulation for longer, has numerous benefits - from increased resource security and reduced emissions, to benefits to the economy and consumers.