‘Carspreading’ could lead to extra 2,600 crash deaths a year by 2040, study finds

The Guardian UK Wednesday 24 June 2026, 10:11 UTC By Ajit Niranjan 1 min read

Key Points

Research shows steady growth in car sizes, which puts other road users at greater risk and increases emissionsCars have grown 1.2cm longer, 0.5cm taller and 0.5cm wider each year on average since 2000, analysis of new vehicles sold in Europe has found, in what green groups call “relentless carspreading”. The increase in size, which leaves people more likely to be killed in a crash and increases emissions that hurt lungs and heat the planet, has progressed at a roughly steady rate for two and...

Research shows steady growth in car sizes, which puts other road users at greater risk and increases emissions

Cars have grown 1.2cm longer, 0.5cm taller and 0.5cm wider each year on average since 2000, analysis of new vehicles sold in Europe has found, in what green groups call “relentless carspreading”.

The increase in size, which leaves people more likely to be killed in a crash and increases emissions that hurt lungs and heat the planet, has progressed at a roughly steady rate for two and half decades even as family sizes have fallen, the campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) found.

Europe (LOCATION) Transport & (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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‘Carspreading’ could lead to extra 2,600 crash deaths a year by 2040, study finds

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