A surge in vehicle size, dubbed 'mobesity' or car-size inflation, has prompted urgent calls for a new licence category for drivers of oversized cars. The push follows an analysis of British crash statistics spanning 2004 to 2023, which confirmed that larger vehicles present significantly heightened dangers to pedestrians.
The Deadly Impact of Bigger Cars
The data revealed a stark disparity in risk. While an adult struck by a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) faces a slightly increased chance of fatal injury, the fatality risk for children is significantly higher. This alarming trend coincides with a grim milestone in Australia, where 2025 marks the fifth year in a row of increasing road deaths.
University of Melbourne Associate Professor Milad Haghani highlighted the obvious yet overlooked danger in The Conversation. "We already know bigger cars cause greater impacts in collisions," he wrote, noting that SUVs and utility vehicles (utes) from a decade or two ago now appear small compared to modern models.
Reforming Licensing and Penalties
Professor Haghani has proposed critical reforms to Australia's licensing system. He pointed out a major flaw: practical driving tests are typically taken in small cars, yet the licence granted permits drivers to operate much heavier vehicles immediately. "Many drivers obtain their licence in a small sedan but can legally drive a two-tonne ute the next day," he explained.
His solution is a tiered approach. He advocates for a practical test taken in a vehicle comparable to what the driver intends to use regularly. Alternatively, he suggests a streamlined licence upgrade process for experienced drivers who choose to upsize their vehicle, formally acknowledging the added responsibility.
Furthermore, Haghani called for penalties to reflect vehicle size. He argued that fines or demerit points should be scaled accordingly, as a large ute or SUV travelling 10km/h over the speed limit carries far more kinetic energy and needs a longer stopping distance than a small car. "If Australia is serious about reducing road trauma, these are the kinds of targeted, evidence-based adjustments that should be considered," he stated.
Market Trends and Tax Loopholes
The push for reform comes against a backdrop of booming sales for larger vehicles. According to RACV figures from July last year, SUVs now constitute 60% of all new vehicle sales in Australia. The medium SUV segment was the largest in the first half of 2025, with 149,167 units sold.
Teal MP Monique Ryan announced plans this week to address a tax incentive she blames for the proliferation of oversized vehicles. "There are twice as many utes as tradies in Australia," she claimed, targeting the luxury car tax exemption.
Currently, a 33% levy applies to the portion of a car's price above roughly $77,000 (or $89,000 for fuel-efficient models). However, many large dual-cab utes escape this tax entirely—even when priced over $100,000—as they are classified as commercial vehicles. Critics argue this loophole, designed for genuine work use, now incentivises the personal purchase of oversized, high-emission utes, while smaller, cleaner electric and hybrid cars remain subject to the tax.
"We need to remove the luxury car tax exemption, which incentivises people to buy mega-utes instead of safer, cleaner, smaller cars and SUVs," Dr Ryan said. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has been contacted for comment on the proposed licensing and policy changes.
