Autobesity,also known ascar bloatandtruck bloat,is the trend, beginning in about the 1990s,[3]of cars increasing in average size and weight.[4][5]The average weight of cars sold in Europe increased by 21% between 2001 and 2022.[6]In the U.S., SUVs and pickup trucks comprised more than 75% of new sales in 2024 compared to 38% in 2009.[7]
TheSUVHyundai Tucsonwas the best-selling vehicle in Spain in 2022. It can weigh over 1800 kg and measure over 4 and a half meters in length.
The size and weight of automobiles have increased over the past few decades.
Trucks' share of US vehicles produced, has tripled since 1975. Though vehicle fuel efficiency has increased within each category, the overall trend toward less efficient types of vehicles has offset some of the benefits of greater fuel economy and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.[1]Without the shift towards SUVs, energy use per unit distance could have fallen 30% more than it did from 2010 to 2022.[2]
Negative consequences
editAmong the consequences of increased car weight and size are:
- Poorerair quality,even withelectric vehicles,because heavier vehicles have higher energy consumption and release more tyre and brake particles (non-tailpipe emissions).[3][8]
- Reducedroad safety,as heavier vehicles have greaterkinetic energy,and taller vehicles are more likely to strike pedestrians in the head and torso, or even not be able to see small children who are below the driver's line of sight.[9][10]Additionally, larger vehicles are more likely to hit pedestrians when turning due to poorervisibility.[11][12]Vehicles with higher front ends and blunt profiles are 45% more likely to cause fatalities in crashes with pedestrians than smaller cars and trucks.[7]Pedestrian fatalities increased by 57% between 2013 and 2022.[13]
- Parking issues for other vehicles, as they don't fit in typical parking spaces, often occupying multiple spaces.[14]
- Increased consumption ofpublic space,promoting moresprawling citiesand further exacerbating energy and automobile dependency.[15]
Explanations
editAn individual driver may choose a large car for personal safety, though it threatens other road users. This in turn pushes others to choose large cars, avicious circle.A US National Safety Council expert described autobesity as an "arms race".[16]
Government actions to counter autobesity
edit- France,Norway,andWashington, D.C.tax vehicles by weight.[17][18]
- A 2023European Parliamentreport proposes introducing a new "category B+" driving licence for cars heavier than 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).[19]
- From 2024Pariswill charge greater parking fees forSUVs.[20]
- In September 2024, the USNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrationproposed a rule mandating manufacturers to test their vehicles using pedestriancrash test dummies,with an estimate of saving 67 pedestrian lives per year.[13]
References
edit- ^"Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report".EPA.gov.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). December 12, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on September 2, 2023.
- ^Cazzola, Pierpaolo; Paoli, Leonardo; Teter, Jacob (November 2023)."Trends in the Global Vehicle Fleet 2023 / Managing the SUV Shift and the EV Transition"(PDF).Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI). p. 3.doi:10.7922/G2HM56SV.Archived(PDF)from the original on November 26, 2023.
- ^abFuller, Gary (September 8, 2023)."Autobesity on course to worsen air pollution caused by motoring".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on May 18, 2024.
- ^"Researchers warn 'autobesity' trend is on track to endanger health worldwide: 'This rise in fatalities coincides'".October 22, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2023.RetrievedNovember 6,2023.
- ^Hatch, Patrick (August 5, 2023)."Bigger, dirtier, more dangerous: How 'auto-besity' is a health risk for everyone".The Sydney Morning Herald.Australia.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^Anthony, Andrew (November 5, 2023)."Monsters of the road: What should the UK do about SUVs?".The Guardian.
- ^ab"As cars and trucks get bigger and taller, lawmakers look to protect pedestrians".NPR.
- ^Zipper, David (July 19, 2023)."EVs Are Sending Toxic Tire Particles Into the Water, Soil, and Air".The Atlantic.US.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us.Netherlands. March 2023.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023– via youtube.
- ^"Des voitures plus lourdes, plus hautes et plus puissantes pour une sécurité routière à deux vitesses?"[Heavier, taller and more powerful cars for two-speed road safety?]. Belgium: Vias Institute. August 30, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^"Editorial: Hulking SUVs and trucks are deadly. We need to encourage safer models".Los Angeles Times.US. April 4, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^"SUVs, other large vehicles often hit pedestrians while turning".US:Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.March 17, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^abHawkins, Andrew J. (September 10, 2024)."The US finally takes aim at truck bloat".The Verge.RetrievedSeptember 26,2024.
- ^Norris, Sian (August 26, 2023)."More than 150 car models too big for regular UK parking spaces".Guardian.UK.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^Medina, Miguel Ángel (September 25, 2023)."¿Deben pagar más los coches grandes por aparcar en la calle? En París y Lyon empezarán a hacerlo".El País(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2023.RetrievedNovember 6,2023.
- ^Zipper, David (November 7, 2022)."The Car Safety Feature That Kills the Other Guy".Slate.US.Archivedfrom the original on August 7, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^Alter, Lloyd (September 8, 2023)."Car bloat is getting ridiculous and must be stopped".Carbon Upfront!.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
- ^Vaughan, Adam Vaughan (November 6, 2023)."Tax SUVs by weight like France and Norway, say green campaigners".thetimes.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
- ^"Draft report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012"(PDF).European Parliament. July 19, 2023. 2023/0053(COD).Archived(PDF)from the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^Willsher, Kim (July 11, 2023)."Paris to charge SUV drivers higher parking fees to tackle 'auto-besity'".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.