cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/31244231

Ian Brossat, a former Paris councillor and now a senator representing the French Communist party, called for SUVs to be banned in Paris. “This is not the first incident of its kind, and the dangerous nature of SUVs has already been pointed out on several occasions. We owe it to this young man to realise the scale of the problem and draw all the consequences,” Brossat told the Nouvel Obs.

    • Ledivin@lemmy.world
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      14 days ago

      This seems completely unrelated to the story at hand… an SUV isn’t any better at running down a cyclist than a truck is.

      • Mr_Blott@feddit.uk
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        14 days ago

        In British English, a truck is a lorry, or artic. I think you mean a pickup, which used to be called a pickup in US English, but changed to truck because of insecure, tiny-penis people

      • Nightwatch Admin@feddit.nl
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        14 days ago

        Truck drivers are professionals, which doesn’t make them perfect but at least trained in driving large vehicles. SUVs are oversized hormonal toys for insecure, wealthy people who hate rules and other people. They’re even specifically marketed towards that group, just like the modern F150s and RAMs you see now on our narrow roads.

        • Laser@feddit.org
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          13 days ago

          In theory, yes.

          In practice, trucks are possibly the greatest hazard to cyclist, and the don’t are ridiculously low. In one case, the driver list good license for a month and had to pay a fine of 4500 euros.

          Initially, he called the judgement “too harsh” and that he wants to appeal, which it seems he retracted.

          • ByteJunk@lemmy.world
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            14 days ago

            I admire your contortionism.

            The article is about a manchild killing someone with an SUV, and about banning SUVs, and you’re here all like “look there guys, a pink elephant”.

        • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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          14 days ago

          Truck drivers are professionals

          In my state there is an exemption for farmers, their immediate family, and employees. They can get restricted type of CDL without taking a driving test, and aren’t subject to drug and alcohol screening. They just have certain restrictions basically limited to farming activity.

          • Nightwatch Admin@feddit.nl
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            14 days ago

            In my country, farmers unfortunately have similar exceptions. It must be said though, that they rarely drive through towns and cities (and a good thing it is, because most seem to be rather careless).

            • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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              14 days ago

              Ours drive grain to large silos which are usually built next to railroad tracks. There are very small towns that exist only because of the grain silo. The trucks are common enough that you see them on highways and in town. I usually try to stay away from them because they don’t take care of them very well. I’ve seen them with completely bald tires.

      • The Snark Urge@lemmy.world
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        14 days ago

        Is that a fact? Take it up with Edwards, M. and Leonard, D. (September 2022). “Effects of large vehicles on pedestrian and pedalcyclist injury severity”. Journal of Safety Research.

    • HomebrewHedonist@lemmy.ca
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      14 days ago

      There are some rural places, such as northern Canada where am SUV is practical. With the amount of snow that falls there, a small car just doesn’t work well.

      But in Paris, yeah, ban them.

      • The Snark Urge@lemmy.world
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        14 days ago

        It’s the light truck classification that has driven this trend. Before the SUV you could just get a Bronco, Wagoneer, or such. Moving people around in off-road conditions has always had a niche, but bad rules have reshaped the market to an unhealthy condition.