Parisians have declared war on SUVs. The inhabitants of the French capital have approved in a referendum, with 54.55% of the votes, the mayor’s proposal to tighten the driving conditions for heavier vehicles in a referendum held last Sunday. The measure also affects 100% electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which will have to face rates of up to 18 euros per hour to park on public roads, depending on their weight.
The inhabitants of Paris registered on the electoral lists were called to the polls last Sunday in a referendum to answer the following question posed by the city council: “Are you in favor or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky and polluting individual vehicles?”
The consultation aimed to answer several questions related to safety, shared use of public space and pollution, following the sales success of SUVs and 4x4s in France, which are larger and more polluting vehicles. For three decades, the size and average weight of cars in France has increased, taking up more space on the roads and in parking lots.
The average weight of a vehicle has increased by about 250 kg on average. Their average weight in the 1990s was 975 kg and today it is 1,233 kg. These vehicles measure 25 cm longer than utility vehicles. Additionally, due to their size, SUVs are also more dangerous for pedestrians. In the event of a collision with a child, adult or elderly person, SUV accidents are twice as deadly for pedestrians with an SUV as with a standard car.
Of the 1,374,532 people registered on the electoral lists, 78,121 (less than 6%) took part in the referendum. There were 42,415 votes in favor of the mayor’s proposal (54.55%), 35,340 votes against (45.45%) and 366 blank or null votes.
The rate increase will affect non-resident owners who own the following vehicles: an SUV that exceeds the regulatory weight, a thermal or plug-in hybrid car weighing 1.6 tons or more or an electric car weighing 2 tons or more.
Residents and professionals who park their vehicles in their authorized parking area will be excluded. Taxi drivers who park their vehicles at taxi stops and drivers of medical service vehicles will also not be affected by the measure.
When the measure comes into force, these means of transport will see the price of parking triple: up to 18 euros per hour in the most central districts of the city and 12 in the most peripheral ones. According to the municipality’s calculations, Paris will receive an additional 35 million euros for this concept.
Before the measure comes into force, it must be endorsed in the municipal plenary session. It is unlikely that it will not advance after the popular support received.
