A Greens leader has declared war on American-style vehicles, claiming ‘truckzillas’ were too big and dangerous for Australian roads.
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said Australian roads were not designed to accommodate monster trucks.
‘It is an undeniable fact that large vehicles are dangerous. They have blind spots of up to four meters in front of the vehicle,” said Ms Ratnam.
«And it is no coincidence that a child is eight times more likely to be killed by a larger utility vehicle than by a lighter car.
“Not to mention the staggering amount of pollution caused by these beasts.”
Ratnam (Center) has called for increased registration and parking fees for owners of oversized “monster trucks” in hopes of deterring people from purchasing the vehicles.
American style vans like the ones above are gaining popularity throughout Australia.
Ratnam has called for registration fees to be increased for owners of American-style vehicles in a bid to discourage people from buying them.
“Large utes have a role in regional areas, but these luxury vehicles, which often cost more than $100,000, have significantly higher emissions and are more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than regular passenger cars,” he wrote on Instagram.
“If we want to reduce transport emissions and road deaths, we need to see fewer of these monster cars on our streets.”
Meanwhile, in a local response to growing concern, Yarra City Council, in Melbourne’s east, has taken a step to address the issue.
They have voted to explore the possibility of imposing higher parking fees and costs for drivers of SUVs and large trucks, a measure that could discourage the use of these vehicles in the area.
“If you live in Fitzroy, with the small streets that exist, and you buy a Hummer, you are a complete idiot and you have to be dealt with, in any way that the council can deal with,” said councilor Stephen Jolly.
American-style pickups continue to gain popularity across Australia, with the highly anticipated $140,000 Toyota Tundra arriving in early 2025.
Ford began importing the larger F-150 pickup truck late last year.
Up to 10,000 full-size American pickup trucks were sold in Australia last year.
Photos of ‘truckzillas’ overflowing parking spaces in Australia have circulated on Reddit
Australians are criticizing the comically oversized American utes that are gaining popularity.
Russell White, chief executive of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, warned that US-style vehicles have increased blind spots.
“The larger these types of vehicles are, there is a greater risk of blind spots being large enough to obscure vulnerable road users, so having things like front-facing cameras should definitely be part of the safety package. general,” Mr. White said.
‘As we have seen with reversing cameras, it is another tool that a driver can have to have the information they need to operate the vehicle.
“As they become more popular and there are more of them, unless something is done to look at their safety ratings and evolve them over time, we may see more incidents on the roads.”
Many vehicle owners have been vilified for taking up multiple parking spaces and a debate has emerged online.
‘This country is not made to accommodate large American cars.
“Unless you really need it (Ford F150), you are making life worse for those who drive around you and park next to you.”
Many more Australians expressed concerns about vehicle safety.
“Its height means that pedestrians are more likely to suffer a head impact. This, combined with low visibility, means they are a threat on the streets. Pedestrian deaths in the United States are at their highest level in 40 years.