Bigger vehicles cause multiple harms, but resistance to rise of SUVs and trucks has had mixed support

Andreas Mandalka, a German cycling activist, was fatally struck from behind by a car, part of a broader road safety issue where 19,934 people died on EU roads in 2024.
Public health experts warn of multiple harms from cars: air pollution, climate change, microplastics, reduced space for cyclists and pedestrians, and increased stress.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) encourages carsharing, slower driving, and working from home to cushion the shock from soaring fuel prices caused by the Iran war.
Despite reasons to limit car dependence, vehicles keep growing; in Europe, average vehicle mass has risen 9% for combustion engine cars and 70% for electric ones since 2010.
Over 80% of cars sold in the US are SUVs, vans, or pickup trucks, and thousands of large trucks like the Dodge Ram 1500 are imported into Europe through a safety standards loophole.
Europe is at a crossroads: produce compact affordable electric vehicles like China or embrace expensive mega SUVs and monster trucks like the US.