According to the campaign group Clean Cities, the number of SUVs has increased tenfold in London in 20 years from about 80,000 SUVs in 2002 to 800,000 SUVs in 2023.
Analysis in the Vision Zero action plan states: “Large SUVs are physically reshaping urban streets, with half of new cars now too wide for minimum specified parking spaces.
“They take up more road space, leaving less for people cycling and motorcycling, and block sight lines needed to cross or use the road safely.
“Their bulk makes junctions, crossings and residential streets more hazardous for everybody outside the vehicle.
“Without action to address oversized and heavier vehicles, more people will be seriously injured or killed.”
The new plan sets out 43 actions to reduce risks on the roads, including using AI to detect dangerous drivers, more 20mph speed limits and 1,000 new pedestrian crossings.