New research shows perceived safety makes drivers take more risks

A recent study undertaken by Imperial College London found that drivers of 4x4 vehicles were "more likely" to break the rules of the road than other vehicle drivers.

The drivers of the increasingly popular SUV's are, according the study, more likely to talk on a hand-held mobile phone or fail to wear a seat belt. 

Researchers from Imperial College, found that people feel safer in four wheel drive vehicles and therefore are more likely to take risks.

The study was carried out in Hammersmith where observers noted 38,000 ordinary cars and nearly 3,000 four wheel drive vehicles pass through over a period of two weeks.

They noted that 8.2% of the drivers of four wheel drive vehicles were using a mobile, against 2% of drivers of ordinary cars stating that it was a "worryingly high level of non-compliance".

These findings are the latest in the ever increasing amount of anti-SUV press. Earlier this year Mayor Ken Livingstone labelled drivers of 4x4 as 'idiots' and called "crassly irresponsible" by the Energy Minister however, drivers of "petrol-guzzling" 4x4 vehicles still constitute a sizeable proportion of road users in the local area.

The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, called for higher congestion charges stating "We would also like to see different rates for resident's parking permits, probably based on carbon dioxide emissions, and we want to see a ban on advertising for them."

June 28, 2006