- Study shows SUVs almost twice as likely to kill kids
- “These vehicles are not built for busy city environments” - Paul Murphy TD
- Call for SUV-free zones, similar to protections against HGVs in place since 2007
A 35-year long study looking at 680,000 road collisions has found that children are 82% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV than by a regular car.
Responding to the study, Paul Murphy TD said:'These are alarming statistics for parents across the country, who want their kids to be safe when they go out to play, walk or cycle. These massive vehicles are getting bigger and more dangerous. Many of them are built more like trucks than cars, and meant for off-road use, not driving around quiet estates, or past busy schools. We have some monster vehicles now that are simply not built for our city streets and parking spaces. When used in inappropriate areas, such as urban environments, they can cause damage to our roads, frustration to people parking and endanger people walking and cycling.
'We need to do something to tackle this increased risk to our kids. Almost two decades ago, important protections were brought in to stop trucks and HGVs from using roads that they were not suitable. We need to consider similar steps here, with SUV-free zones, to make sure very large and very dangerous vehicles are kept to appropriate roads and uses. Not only could make our communities safer,and reduce road deaths, it would also make our air cleaner and reduce pollution.'