Ought to Giant Autos Be Taxed to Curb Pedestrian Deaths?

The variety of pedestrian fatalities in the USA is at its highest degree in over three a long time. Coincidentally, there are extra SUVs, crossover SUVs and pick-up vans on the nation’s roads and streets than ever earlier than. Over half of America’s automobile gross sales presently are of fashions in these classes. Whereas drivers of huge automobiles aren’t extra doubtless than these in coupes or sedans to hit pedestrians, research have proven that enormous automobiles are extra prone to kill an individual than injure them.

A number of proposals have been mentioned to scale back highway deaths, together with a mandate for automakers to put in clever speed-limiting expertise in new fashions. Nevertheless, a professor on the College of Hawaii feels there’s an efficient answer that may very well be extra simply applied and assist fund additional measures to make roads safer. He needs to cost a tax on massive automobiles.

This concept isn’t with no real-world instance. Justin Tyndall, an Assistant Professor of Economics on the College of Hawaii Financial Analysis Group, cited a proposal from our nation’s capitol in an article he wrote on Streetsblog. Washington, D.C. council members have proposed laws the place the district would cost greater registration charges for heavier automobiles. The bottom charge is $72 per 12 months. The fee would improve to $175 for automobiles weighing 3,500 kilos or extra. At 5,000 kilos, the registration charge will increase to $250. The proposal’s third and highest charge tier is $500 and begins at 6,000 kilos. For reference, the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE has a curb weight of 4,465 kilos.

Tyndall states, “Assessing a charge as a part of automobile registration presents a handy possibility that will confront drivers with the price of their selection, reminding them {that a} change in automobile can be met with financial savings.” The road of motive is that the charge would discourage SUV purchases. Hopefully, seeing a lower in SUV gross sales, automakers can be inspired to provide smaller fashions.

One other fascinating side of taxing bigger automobiles is the place the income raised may very well be spent. The D.C. proposal would have the cash spent on the D.C. Protected Routes to College program, an initiative aimed toward encouraging college students to stroll and bicycle to highschool in addition to making their commutes safer. Concepts like a big automobile registration charge might feed a optimistic suggestions loop the place the roads turn into safer for everybody.