No more SUVs. A few weeks after the death of cyclist Paul Varry, hit by a motorist in an SUV, in Paris, communist senator Ian Brossat intends to table a bill to “allow local elected officials, if they deem it necessary, to restrict the circulation of SUVs in large cities”he announced Thursday November 7, 2024.
He had already indicated, the day after the death of the 27-year-old cyclist, that he wanted to ban SUV vehicles “to protect the lives of Parisians and pacify public space”but now wants the subject to be debated nationally.
The co-president of the communist group at the Paris Council wants the General Code of Local Authorities to be modified, so that communities can regulate the presence of these vehicles. “There is a need for legislative change, because today, if the city of Paris wants to ban the circulation of SUVs, it is not in a position to do so”explains Anne Hidalgo's former housing deputy in her bill.
SUVs “more dangerous than other cars”
To motivate his proposal, he relies on a study by the insurer Axa and emphasizes their character “accident-prone” et “more dangerous than other cars”citing ” notably [les SUV] over 2.1 tonnes [qui] cause 10% to 27% more accidents than other types of cars ».
Data to be related to the weight of these vehicles within the automobile market. Over the past fifteen years, the share of SUV sales has increased tenfold to reach 41% of sales in France in 2023, and even 57% in Paris. Furthermore, as recalled in the report by Jean-Baptiste Crohas for UFC-Que Choisir and WWW France, “SUVs are a disaster for the climate: unnecessarily heavy, they consume more and emit much more CO2 than other vehicles ».
Not all SUVs would be affected
Ian Brossat, however, insists that it would not be a question “a total ban”. In his proposed law, he details threshold limits – 1.8 tonnes for thermal vehicles and 2 tonnes for 100% electric vehicles – which would allow a number of SUVs to continue to circulate. On average, currently, the average weight of SUVs is between 1.2 tonnes and 1.8 tonnes.
Exceptions are also provided for “professional uses, transport of disabled people and public service missions”. As for the controls that such a measure would require, Ian Brossat suggests that they be carried out by the municipal police.
If this bill risks coming up against divisions in the National Assembly and the Senate, Ian Brossat plans to submit a wish on the subject to the next Paris council, Tuesday, November 19.
In the meantime, his proposal is already coming up against the discontent of the 40 million motorists association which is launching, this Tuesday, November 12, an operation entitled “Tell it to Ian”. The association “calls on all users of an SUV vehicle to send an email to the senator to explain why they need this type of vehicle for their daily trips”.
