Number of US-style pickup trucks on UK roads up 92% in a decade, data shows

"Analysis by Clean Cities of Department for Transport data has found that registrations of the most commonly sold pickup trucks have risen by 92% in just over a decade, with close to 600,000 (590,587) now on UK roads, compared with 308,103 in 2014. This is a particular problem in urban areas, where the vehicles are not suited to narrow streets, pavements and school environments."

"City leaders must act to discourage these menacing vehicles from our streets. How is it acceptable to have a vehicle so tall that children cannot be seen? Hundreds of thousands of these cars are longer than a second world war tank, and the 10 most common pickup models, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara, account for more than half a million registered vehicles."

"The Ford Ranger is the UK's most popular pickup truck, weighing between 2,200kg and 2,400kg with a bonnet height of more than a metre. Research from the US found that the vehicle's large front blind zone can hide several children."

Registrations of US-style pickup trucks in the UK rose 92% from 308,103 in 2014 to 590,587 now. The ten most common models, including Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara, account for over half a million vehicles. These pickups are heavier and more environmentally damaging than ordinary cars and create greater risks for pedestrians and cyclists. Urban streets, pavements and school environments are particularly affected because the vehicles are often too large for UK streets and parking spaces. Clean Cities calls for higher parking charges for larger vehicles and safety tests such as verifying whether a child can be seen from the driver's seat.

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