SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians, UK study finds

"Deadly Roads: Study Reveals Financial Penalties May Be the Only Way to Reduce Large Vehicle Sales. A groundbreaking new study from Swansea University has uncovered a disturbing truth about the buying habits of drivers, highlighting the need for drastic measures to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Despite being informed about the safety risks posed by large vehicles, drivers remain largely unconcerned, with researchers concluding that financial penalties are the most effective way to deter them from purchasing SUVs and other hazardous vehicles. As governments grapple with the issue of road safety, this study sheds light on the tough decisions that lie ahead in the pursuit of protecting vulnerable road users."

Exclusive: Research suggests financial penalties necessary if number of large vehicles on roads is to be reducedDrivers who are told about the safety risks posed by SUVs to cyclists and pedestrians are very unlikely to be deterred from buying one, a new study has found.The findings indicate that if governments want to reduce the number of large, dangerous vehicles on the roads, it is likely to require financial penalties, according to the psychologists at Swansea University who led the research. Continue reading...