Many people living in California and other parts of the United States have demonstrated a clear preference for large trucks and SUVs in recent years. While those who buy these large, heavy vehicles often do so to better protect their loved ones who ride inside, these vehicles have the opposite effect on everyone outside of the vehicle.
According to ABC 7, a new bill, if passed, would lead to a study on just how much of a danger larger vehicles are to pedestrians and cyclists. The study, if approved, would help determine whether it makes sense to charge individuals who drive large cars and trucks more to register their vehicles than drivers of smaller, more traditional vehicles.
Arguments for charging higher registration fees for big cars
Many people who agree with the notion that drivers of bigger cars should pay more to register argue that these big vehicles pose a clear and notable threat to those traveling on foot or by bike. Bigger cars have higher “leading edges,” meaning they strike cyclists and pedestrians higher up on their bodies than smaller cars. This makes them more likely to cause internal, head, neck or other serious injuries.
Arguments against charging higher registration fees for big cars
Opponents of raising registration fees for drivers of larger vehicles contend that registration fees are already high enough in California and that gas prices are not helping the problem. Many argue that, by making registration fees even higher for some motorists, the overall cost of driving is going to skyrocket and become unmanageable for some residents.
Currently, the amount a driver pays to register his or her vehicle varies based on the cost of the car.
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