Siân Berry: even dummies know that 4x4s aren't safe
18 June 2007
Green Party London Mayoral candidate Siân Berry today protested in north London alongside fellow members of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s dressed as crash test dummies, to highlight the dangers of using 4x4s on the school runn.
A traffic survey of the area around Highgate carried out by the Alliance revealed that the models of 4x4 being used on the school run have some of the worst pedestrian safety scores of any car on the road, making them much more likely to kill or seriously injure a child in a collision. The Alliance points out that parents driving 4x4s on the school run in the belief they will keep their own children safe are endangering the lives of hundreds of other children.
Siân, one of the founders of the Alliance, said, "Driving your child to school should not put other people's children in danger. Parents driving 4x4s on the school run aren't preventing harm - they are causing it."
Alliance members conducted a survey of school run traffic along North Road near Highgate Village, NW London on 21st May 2007. There are 7 schools in the immediate vicinity and, in the critical period between 8 and 9am, they counted 160 4x4s. Of those, the 5 most popular and least fuel-efficient models all have very low or non-existent Euro NCAP pedestrian safety ratings.
ITV's recent documentary, 'Driving Me Crazy', showed by example how dangerous large 4x4s can be due to their poor design. In the show, presenter Jon Sergeant lined up a staggering 9 children in a tail behind a large 4x4 before the driver even noticed them in his blind spot.
Siân said, "This survey shows yet again why there is no place for big 4x4s in London, and especially not on the school run."
Find out more about the campaign at the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s website: www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk
Find out more about crash testing and safety at: www.euroncap.com
