Anger over outsized American-style pick up trucks is raging across , with many people posting photos of the colossal vehicles crowding out carparks.
Heavyweight SUVs and utes have surged in popularity in – they are popular with tradies but also casual drivers who perceive them as being safer than smaller cars.
All of the country’s top-selling cars last year were SUVs or light commercial pickups, with the Ford Ranger, Toyota RAV4, Toyata Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Outlander taking the top five spots.
But even bigger American-style utes such as the Doge Ram and Ford F150 are growing in popularity, sparking arguments over whether they should be allowed in urban areas, as they turn sidestreets into slalom courses for other drivers, and take up multiple parking bays.
This week a truck was seen mounted on the curb so it could fit in a parking space at Belconnen Mall in Canberra.
‘These cars are literally not built for the infrastructure in ,’ said one commenter on social media.
‘They’re a nuisance and if everyone wanted one, there would be issues.’
‘I feel like a majority of people are buying these because they think it makes them look cool,’ said another.
Others came to the driver’s defence, saying he had done his best not to disadvantage other drivers by using two bays.
‘Don’t see the issue, he’s parked in a way that won’t inconvenience another person at the centre.’
Another truck, spotted in Sydney, was snapped taking up both a disabled parking space and a no-go area.
‘Massive policy failure that in a world where space, pollution and pedestrian safety are issues we are seeing bigger and bigger cars thrive,’ said one.
‘Do people like this not realise that they are society’s a**holes?’ fumed another.
‘The moment you purchase that car and drive it, you are an a**hole who makes everyone around you’s life difficult.’
‘Ban these, if you actually had a use for it you’d get a proper truck,’ said a third.
One Sydneysider said he lived in Rose Bay and complained of ‘mums, with one kid, who somehow need a f***ing Pajero/Landcruiser to take their kids to school’.
‘The lanes in the city where the schools are, are too f***ing small so, all that happens is massive utes and 4WDs end up blocking the 2 lanes of traffic until someone on one side gives up and decides to back up.’
‘As long as government gives them a tax incentive to write off the cost of these vehicles, builders will purchase them,’ said another Aussie.
‘I’m sure you could pull back the tarp and see a pristine tray without a scratch!’
Large utes are exempt from the luxury car tax in because they are designated as commercial vehicles mainly designed for carrying goods rather than passengers.
It’s estimated the loophole cost the government $250million in foregone revenue in 2023.