Engineering:Autobesity

From HandWiki
The SEAT 600 was the best-selling car in Spain during the 1950s and 1960s. It weighed around 600 kg and measured just over three meters in length.
The SUV Hyundai Tucson was the best-selling vehicle in Spain in 2022. It can weigh over 1800 kg and measure over 4 and a half meters in length.
The size and weight of automobiles have continued to increase over the past few decades.

Autobesity, also known as car bloat and truck bloat, is the contemporary trend of cars increasing in average size and weight.[1][2] The average weight of cars sold in Europe increased by 21% between 2001 and 2022.[3]

Negative consequences

Among the consequences of increased car weight and size are:

  • Poorer air quality, even with electric vehicles, because heavier vehicles have higher energy consumption and release more tyre and brake particles (non-tailpipe emissions).[4][5]
  • Reduced road safety, as heavier vehicles have greater kinetic energy, and taller vehicles are more likely to strike pedestrians in the head and torso, or even not be able to see small children who are below the driver's line of sight.[6][7] Additionally, larger vehicles are more likely to hit pedestrians when turning due to poorer visibility.[8][9]
  • Parking issues for other vehicles, as they don't fit in typical parking spaces, often occupying multiple spaces.[10]

Explanations

An individual driver may choose a large car for personal safety, though it threatens other road users. This in turn pushes others to choose large cars, a vicious circle. A US National Safety Council expert described autobesity as an "arms race".[12]

Government actions to counter autobesity

  • From 2024 Paris will charge greater parking fees for SUVs.[13]
  • A 2023 European Parliament report proposes introducing a new "category B+" driving licence for cars heavier than 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Researchers warn 'autobesity' trend is on track to endanger health worldwide: 'This rise in fatalities coincides'". October 22, 2023. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/researchers-warn-autobesity-trend-track-114500082.html. 
  2. ↑ Hatch, Patrick (2023-08-05). "Bigger, dirtier, more dangerous: How 'auto-besity' is a health risk for everyone". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). https://www.smh.com.au/national/bigger-dirtier-more-dangerous-how-auto-besity-is-a-health-risk-for-everyone-20230803-p5dtkg.html. 
  3. ↑ Anthony, Andrew (November 5, 2023). "Monsters of the road: What should the UK do about SUVs?". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/05/monsters-of-the-road-what-should-the-uk-do-about-suvs. 
  4. ↑ Fuller, Gary (September 8, 2023). "'Autobesity' on course to worsen air pollution caused by motoring". The Guardian (UK). https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/08/autobesity-on-course-to-worsen-air-pollution-caused-by-motoring. 
  5. ↑ Zipper, David (July 19, 2023). "EVs Are Sending Toxic Tire Particles Into the Water, Soil, and Air". The Atlantic (US). https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/07/electric-vehicles-tires-wearing-out-particulates/674750/. 
  6. ↑ These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us. Netherlands. March 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-23 – via www.youtube.com.
  7. ↑ "Des voitures plus lourdes, plus hautes et plus puissantes pour une sécurité routière à deux vitesses ?". Belgium: Vias Institute. August 30, 2023. https://www.vias.be/fr/newsroom/des-voitures-plus-lourdes-plus-hautes-et-plus-puissantes-pour-une-securite-routiere-a-deux-vitesses-/. 
  8. ↑ "Editorial: Hulking SUVs and trucks are deadly. We need to encourage safer models". Los Angeles Times (US). April 4, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-04-04/editorial-hulking-suvs-and-trucks-are-deadly-to-pedestrians-why-arent-regulators-pushing-for-safer-models. 
  9. ↑ "SUVs, other large vehicles often hit pedestrians while turning". US: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2022-03-17. https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/suvs-other-large-vehicles-often-hit-pedestrians-while-turning. 
  10. ↑ Norris, Sian (August 26, 2023). "More than 150 car models too big for regular UK parking spaces". Guardian (UK). https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/26/more-than-150-car-models-too-big-for-regular-uk-parking-spaces. 
  11. ↑ Medina, Miguel Ángel (2023-09-25). "¿Deben pagar más los coches grandes por aparcar en la calle? En París y Lyon empezarán a hacerlo" (in es). https://elpais.com/clima-y-medio-ambiente/2023-09-25/deben-pagar-mas-los-coches-grandes-por-aparcar-en-la-calle-en-paris-y-lyon-empezaran-a-hacerlo.html. 
  12. ↑ Zipper, David (2022-11-07). "The Car Safety Feature That Kills the Other Guy". Slate (US). https://slate.com/business/2022/11/suv-size-truck-bloat-pedestrian-deaths.html. 
  13. ↑ Willsher, Kim (July 11, 2023). "Paris to charge SUV drivers higher parking fees to tackle 'auto-besity'". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/11/paris-charge-suv-drivers-higher-parking-fees-tackle-auto-besity. 
  14. ↑ "Draft report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012". European Parliament. 2023-07-19. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TRAN-PR-750248_EN.pdf. 

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