While car makers seems intent on producing more and more models and car buyers are still buying them in huge numbers, the size and potential damage that SUV type vehicles may be causing is coming more and more into the public consciousness. Little by little the anti SUV lobby is gaining momentum and the city of Paris is the latest high profile recruit. 

Paris recently had a referendum on whether to implement some anti SUV policies and as part of this the city authorities have been given the green light to impose a threefold increase in parking charges for large SUVs. 

The referendum was 54.5% to 45.5% in favour of the parking charge increase, although, less than 6% of those eligible to vote turned out. 

The idea is to discourage use of large SUVs in the city and encourage more use of bikes and public transport. Emmanuel Grégoire, Parisian deputy mayor, described large SUVs as “Heavier, more dangerous, more polluting … SUVs are an environmental disaster.”

Other cities will be monitoring how Paris now implements the new charges, which are expected to be introduced in September.