The mayor of the French capital Anne Hidalgo declared against crossovers. She believes that crossovers and SUVs pollute the environment and are much more dangerous on city roads than compact cars.
According to The Times, Hidalgo will introduce a bill in the French Senate that would give city councils the power to ban the use of certain private vehicles, given the crossovers in question.
The bill will be tabled next week. If it is approved and goes into effect, then not all crossovers and SUVs will be subject to restrictions, but only those from luxury and premium brands, such as the Range Rover.
They are designated in the project as "4x4s de luxe" or “quatre-quatres de luxe” " (luxury cars with all-wheel drive). This includes gasoline and diesel crossovers and SUVs weighing more than 1.7 tons, as well as electric SUVs weighing more than two tons.
According to statistics cited by The Times, crossovers and SUVs, which could be banned, make up about 25 percent of Paris' car fleet. This is another measure against heavy cars, as previously the price of parking for heavy crossovers and SUVs in Paris was increased.
In the city center it has increased and is now 18 euros per hour against 6 euros for cars of other classes. In addition, in the French capital, there is a ban on all cars in the city center, unless their owners work in this area, go there for shopping, to a restaurant or a museum.
Parisians' dissatisfaction with big cars has grown since last month, when a Mercedes-Benz SUV driver killed 27-year-old cyclist Paul Varry. The driver is charged with manslaughter.