c/fuckcars · by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz · 164d

SUVs are making Britain’s potholes worse, say scientists

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/11/suv-britain-potholes-worse-scientists-heavier-cars

155 points · 13 comments · view on lemmy.world

13 Comments

FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world · 42 pts · 164d

They're making everything worse.

Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 164d (1 reply)

Increasing number of heavier vehicles

EV’s are the heavyweights so we collectively need to decide whether we’re going to improve roads or reduce car traffic

Venat0r@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 163d

Depends, some that don't have oversized batteries aren't too bad compared to any other modern car...

A large part of the weight of modern cars is crash protection structures, regardless of if it's an EV or not...

The overall size of the vehicle is the biggest determining factor in its weight though...

Illecors@lemmy.cafe · 1 pts · 164d

While the primary reason for pothole formation remained the freezing and thawing of rainwater over wet winters, and the heaviest vehicles, such as lorries, were likely to cause immediate damage, the growing weight of cars was worsening road surfaces.

Yeah. Clickbait.

dfi@lemmy.nz · -38 pts · 164d (9 replies)

Pretty sure it transport trucks and lorries that do most of the damage, but sure blame SUVs everyone hates those right?

renzhexiangjiao@piefed.blahaj.zone · 35 pts · 164d (1 reply)

found the butthurt suv owner

dfi@lemmy.nz · -6 pts · 164d

I don’t own a SUV I own an EV which is another type of vehicle that gets blamed for wrecking roads due their weight. Roads are designed around the largest vehicle that commonly use them. For example in suburban neighbourhoods that would be a garbage truck. Would SUVs increase road wear sure, but Increased traffic and less road maintenance would be bigger factors then SUVs.

greyscale@lemmy.grey.ooo · 32 pts · 164d

forty tonners rarely turn up in your cul-de-sac with shagged roads, but nobody has a front garden because everyone has two crossovers.

MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 164d (1 reply)

Por que no los dos.

Plus the lorries and HGVs have an actual purpose and use, whereas 95% of all SUVs could be replaced by a smaller car with their owner still being able to do what they need to do.

Ibuthyr@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 163d

SUVs are small, lifted cars with a ridiculous amount of padding. They are such useless vehicles. Truly one of the dumbest things to hit the automobile market. I can't take people seriously in these things.

ji59@hilariouschaos.com · 11 pts · 164d

It is experimentally measured that road damage is proportional to fourth power of weight on an axle. And most of the trucks have multiple axles that distribute the weight. But SUVs while being lighter only have 2 axles, so the road damage done isn't that much smaller. So I wouldn't be surprised if most of the damage was done by SUVs, since there are much more od them.

then_three_more@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 164d

They're necessary though (unless we're going to spend a lot of money improving freight train and waterway freight infrastructure) SUV's aren't necessary

basxto@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 163d

Yes, it is about weight. It would generally be good to reduce the amount of heavy vehicles on roads or to let heavy vehicles pay more. There are countries who have issues with more freight traffic being on the road than it should be. (Freight trains have cheaper infrastructure for long-distance stuff)

FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 164d

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