This is an INSANE decision by the E.U. “By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.” This will kill people.

ETSC: Mutual recognition deal ...
ETSC: Mutual recognition deal with U.S. will cost lives on Europe’s roads

By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the United States, the European Union has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice…

ETSC
For those replying that Europeans won’t buy them, and European cities “can’t fit them anyway,” I truly hope you’re right. However, I’ve I’ve learned not to underestimate the relentless automobile marketing industry, & the insidiousness of the “safety arms race“ once bigger vehicles start showing up.

@brenttoderian.bsky.social the ultimate irony is they’re not safer as they have not got crumple zones and have passed no safety or stability tests because under US law they are exempt over 1.5 tonnes. A few people have managed to bring them in as personal imports, but they cannot be sold commercially here because they don’t satisfy our safety standards.

Which is a roundabout way of saying they’re death traps

@peterbrown @brenttoderian.bsky.social
When a big car hits a small car, the heaviest one wins and the highest one wins. So eventually statistics will show this, and hopefully laws limiting these beasts will be introduced.