Fears over safety as analysis by Which? shows ‘autobesity’ epidemic means cars getting wider and longer

While this is mostly about parking issues, the part that stood out most to me in this is:

A study published in the Journal of Safety Research last year found that children were eight times more likely to die when struck by an SUV than those struck by a passenger car.

Eight times! To me, that’s insane. Even if it were 50% that would be very bad, but this is 700% more!

    • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
      173·
      1 year ago

      They’ve been fine for decades. Its the stupid american propensity for oversized cars infesting the uk

      • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
        3·
        1 year ago

        The yanks can do what they like, but it’s the lazy car companies cutting costs by not designing models for different territories anymore. They just make the one frame and change the innards for different countries.

      • TWeaK@lemm.eeEnglish
        32·
        1 year ago

        No they’ve always been too small. Even small cars have difficulty getting even one click on the door open when parked in the smallest of UK spaces. Sure, maybe the “standard size” UK space has been more or less sufficient, but the fact is the standard isn’t enforced very well and smaller spaces are very common.

        Length is another matter, and there are ways to park to address that. Although I’ve seen plenty who drive bigger vehicles completely fail at this, leaving their vehicle sticking out obtrusively. But the UK is notorious for having spaces that are too narrow, all in an effort to cram one more in and get more parking revenue.

          • TWeaK@lemm.eeEnglish
            2·
            1 year ago

            No, I’m just referring to the inability to open a door even to the first point in many car parks across the UK. Not all, maybe not even most, but a significant number. I reckon it’s gotten better over the years, I don’t think newer car parks are a problem.

        • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
          1·
          1 year ago

          I don’t drive, but growing up my mum always drove estate cars as we had dogs so needed the boot for them. Never had an issue parking or getting in or out of the car in any of them.