London's Khan Proposes SUV Fees for Safer Streets

0:00On March 13, London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, is looking at new fees for drivers of large SUVs as part of a push to make roads safer. The plans include charges on these bigger vehicles, more 20-mile-per-hour zones, and using artificial intelligence to spot rule-breakers like, speeders or phone users. This comes from Transport for London's Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to end all road deaths in serious injuries by 2041. Research shows SUVs are deadlier in crashes, with kids 77% more likely to die if hit while walking or cycling, and adults, 14%. Percent more at risk. SUV numbers in the city have jumped from 80,000 in 2002 to 800,000 last year, making streets feel more crowded and hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians. Meanwhile, road deaths in serious injuries have dropped by a quarter over the past decade, thanks to earlier changes. Other ideas involve cutting speed limits on fast roads, like the North Circular, from 50 to 40 miles per hour by 2035, adding 35 more miles of 20-mile-per-hour zones by 2030 and building 1,000 new pedestrian crossings by 2031.

1:18These steps build on recent moves, like expanding the ultra-low emission zone across greater London and raising the congestion charge to 18, pounds a day, sparking debate over whether they're helping safety or just pricing drivers out.