Number of ‘menacing’ pickups on UK roads doubles in decade

The number of US-style pickup trucks on UK roads has almost doubled in the past 10 years, data shows.

- Helena Horton Environment reporter

The vehicles are more environmentally damaging than ordinary cars, and more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Campaigners have said the vehicles, which are often too big for UK streets and parking spaces, are built like “battering rams”.

Analysis by Clean Cities found that registrations of the most commonly sold pickup trucks have risen by 92% in just over a decade, with 590,587 on UK roads compared with 308,103 in 2014. This is a particular problem in urban areas, where the vehicles are not suited to narrow streets and pavements or school environments.