Why do people drive unnecessarily large cars?

It sure does.

Bus drivers are professionally trained.

Perhaps she's used to people cutting her off, not letting her out etc when she's in her bus and want's a bigger car to avoid that.

There's a marked difference driving a small car compared to a bigger car and how you're treated on the road.

The difference being that buses serve a useful purpose, and are driven by people who had to pass an additional test and have been made aware of the increased dangers posed by the size of their vehicle, and the necessity for an increased level of forward planning. Whereas SUVs are useless and are mostly driven by idiots who rarely look beyond the end of their bonnets and aren't aware of either their own limitations or the size of the vehicle.

They should be banned.

Because you can actually sit and relax in RR rather the bones shaking off you all the way home in some **** box...

The possibility of it folding up like a deckchair in crash is also a plus...

If a manufacturer can make it and someone someone can afford it, it is absolutely none of your business OP..

Maybe you don't like the size of their kitchen next? They might have a double range oven to go with the range rover

It's everyone's business, because (contrary to what the average SUV driver might feel) we all have to share the roads. Smaller cars, driven safely, are safer than allowing idiots to swan around in cars that are too big for their abilities. Perhaps that's why SUVs are driven so badly - the people inside them are too comfortable and unaware of what's going on around them. I've been driving 40 hours a week for the last decade and a half, and I have never seen a Range Rover being driven well.

The kitchen comparison is weirdly apt. If you're sh*t at cooking, it doesn't matter how big your kitchen is. You'll still be sh*t at cooking - although at least it's nobody else's problem. If you're sh*t at driving, it does matter how big your car is - not only because of the damage it can do, but because you lack the spatial awareness to control it in a safe manner. And that's everyone's problem.

that system is already in place. commercial vehicles at flat rate of 333 tax vs private vehicles with up to 2K tax depending on engine size

Amused to just see this thread as I have been thinking the same thing recently. The increase in large vehicles and drivers struggling to handle them has definitely become a thing. I was parked in town a few days ago when a car left the street space in front of me. Soon after 2 large suvs made an attempt to park in it. The second guy took so long that the traffic was backing up and people began getting frustrated. Both drivers gave up and moved on.

I have noticed a number of women pulling into car parks in ford raptors and similar large vehicles. It's becoming a bit ridiculous as car parking spaces and access lanes are not designed for such vehicles.

It's silly saying people should be able to buy what they want when it's clearly becoming a problem for traffic movement and safety. You are more likely to kill a child in an SUV as they are less visible due to the high bonnet. These vehicles are getting wider by 1cm every 10 years.

Time to seriously increase the tax on them with concessions only for people who genuinely need them for their job as someone already suggested.

Always love this question. I’m surrounded by people who think the same. Driven a series of SUVs and trucks over the last 10 years and “in my opinion” they offer more than a standard car.

Driving position is much better. You feel at a natural height above the road, can see more of your surroundings, and are easier to get in and out of. This is particularly helpful for the elderly, children, and anyone with disabilities.

Anyone who has children, shouldn’t even be a question.

Bigger and more useable cargo space in the rear. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve put down the middle three seats and helped transport things.

Generally safer cars. If I’m going to be in a car accident, I would rather be in a higher position with more material around me. This could be one of the reasons OPs example could be driving one. Regarding the pedestrian question, to combat that, perhaps we should just remove all the cars off the road and walk everywhere.

The average suv is not much bigger than smaller hatchbacks. The Peugeot 5008 is about 100mm wider and 500mm longer than an ID3. They have a much higher clearance and are obviously taller cars which gives the appearance they are substantially larger. Also, in terms of footprint, some of the largest cars on the road are the big limousine cars eg. A8, 7 series which I see as many as Range Rovers. If you’ve ever tried to drive one of those in a car park, bloody nightmare. Like driving a space shuttle which ironically people say to me about my Peugeot ;)

Ah the typical silly line 'maybe we should remove all cars and walk'. Of course you know full well that no one is even hinting at that. Most of us here drive every day. It's about safety for all and reducing congestion and parking issues. The comments here are mainly about defenders, raptors, land rovers and other comparable sized SUVs that have no place in urban areas. If the taxes are substantially increased then it will reduce theamount of them on our streets and those who need them for work or can afford them can still drive them.

Car makers and dealerships are businesses. Usually the higher the retail price the higher the margin. Suvs are (very generally😁) around 40k to buy. Small hatchbacks around 20k. Saloons around 30k.

So suvs could have double the margin or more than small hatchbacks. Therefore suvs were pushed in the advertising. And now and for a good while they have been very popular..almost the norm. This has another social effect ..."if I don't have an suv I'm not normal" "Johnny up the road has an suv as does Mary down the road..ill be damned if I don't have one for myself" . They're just the trend atm unfortunately.

Fair enough. The SUV hate is on a scale though and some people can’t stand them full stop whether there one of those super mini-esque SUVs or to the fully kitted out Defenders. I do really dislike this idea of over taxing certain things as if we were do apply that for everything, I feel like society will be squeezed in a box where everyone is the same.
Want something more than a 3 bed semi, or hey, your single, you don’t need more than a 1 bed apartment? Let’s tax you more for that. Want to go on two holidays per year - let’s double your carbon tax shall we. We’ve already taxed alcohol and sugar, what about water? That beer will now cost yeah double. Eating out twice per week! Way too much - let’s tax you some more. I’m running out of ideas so let’s just call it a “fun” tax, that will get you eating more at home!

I’m being sensationalist but it’s a slippy road and it’s a road we’re already on to be honest. If someone wants to go out and buy a Land Rover, bloody let them.

'SUV hate' 🙄

Completely ignoring the reasonable issues raised.

Plenty got bus licences too without a test originally.