Australians need to take this seriously—rules like this were a big factor in these killer machines becoming the norm in the US.
This is thankfully only about imports so it will limit the damage, but the coming fuel efficiency standards carve out an exception too (although I believe they are more stringent than the US standards at least).
EDIT: I was under the impression the tax only applies to private imports, but it actually doesn’t. See my below comment. But it is limited to higher priced vehicles at least.
The US also has this loophole, all SUVs are classified as ‘light trucks’ and therefore don’t have to follow the more strict emissions laws. This is what led to these massive cars and trucks.
Also, the roads in many US states are falling apart and larger vehicles and trucks drive better over potholes and bad road conditions.
People prefer big SUVs and trucks when the roads are badly maintained and it will damage normal cars. The trend of larger rims with a thinner sidewall almost guarantees normal cars will have much worse ride quality and be more prone to damage and costly repairs.
The new trucks are so tall and have a massive blind spot in front, you can’t see anything. They are a danger to pedestrians and children in addition to having blinding headlights that shine directly at eye level for any normal car.
Stop blaming roads on consumer trucks. Nearly all the damage is 18 wheelers. Same with the headlights they are just fine unless modified. You have zero evidence they are any brighter or aimed worse than every other vehicle on the road.
Stop blaming roads on consumer trucks. Nearly all the damage is 18 wheelers.
No where did I mention that the cause of road damage was caused by SUVs. I said that people prefer larger vehicles because they driver better on poorly maintained roads due to larger tires and heavy duty suspension.
Also, 18 wheelers don’t drive in residential areas and therefore don’t affect most smaller roads. Those roads fall apart due to a variety if reasons including weather and lack of maintenance and drainage.
As for your other claim, there is plenty of evidence that LED headlights are brighter. This is easily measurable and new headlights have higher lumens and a different color. Newer cars all have LED lights that are more blue than older halogen lights that were yellow.
Trucks and SUVs have gotten bigger and taller over the last 2-3 decades and those headlights are at eye level for most cars. This causes more glare and when combined with brighter LED lights that have a blue color balance lead to glare!
US laws around headlights have not been updated since the 1970s! European laws are also more strict on aiming downward to reduce glare from trucks and tall vehicles.
Since you want some proof:
Blinded by the light: Cars in the U.S. still lack glare-reducing headlights
Here is another study done by AAA: (it has pictures and comparisons so you don’t need to strain yourself reading too many big words)
COMPARISON OF EUROPEAN AND U.S. SPECIFICATION AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP PERFORMANCE
Notice those aren’t limited to trucks?
Let me explain this to you using simple words:
Trucks are taller than cars.
Trucks have bright new LED headlights.
Truck lights are not pointed down enough and don’t have the same regulations as in Europe.
Since trucks are taller and have stronger, brighter lights, they blind people.
The same applies for cars with new LED lights.
Most of that but the last line is just you making up assumptions across the board. The f150 and ram are absolutely pointed down and not overly bright compared to the rest and regulation.
Yes the reg needs updating. No trucks don’t do dumb shit any worse than all new cars.
Here’s a nice chart showing relative damage
But I do have to disagree. At first you can look at this chart and see proof - clearly by far most road damage will be from trucks. But the other half of the equation is how many. A highway only needs a few trucks with those numbers to create most of their damage. However many local roads rarely, if ever, get full sized trucks. If you have a residential neighborhood, long haul trucks are not a thing, and delivery trucks are much smaller. So yeah, everyone owning a monster pickup might very well cause most of the damage
Not to mention average pickup truck weight has increased since the study. Older trucks were lighter because they didn’t have fully boxed frames and every p/u is an extended cab now.
Australia doesn’t manufacturer cars any more. All cars in Australia are imported. Unless I’m misunderstanding your comment?
The law refers to cars that aren’t directly sold in Australia, i.e. through private imports. So if you buy from a dealer that has a presence in Australia, the import tax doesn’t apply. And it only applies to cars above a certain price I should add, hence the name: Luxury Car Tax (LCT).EDIT: Actually, I’m wrong on this. It applies to retailers and wholesalers too, see: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/luxury-car-tax/when-lct-applies
I just don’t get modern truck culture. They’re so big, and ugly! They are such an inconvenience to everyone else on the road. And I doubt even half the people who own then do truck stuff with them. They’re way to tall, the giant tall grilles look stupid. Their stupid headlights shine in my face. A 2024 Colorado is bigger than a 1994 Silverado. Why? I hate them even more than people who wear pajamas in public.
You can tell which ones aren’t used for anything. Bed is spotless and unused, tires are clean, and the heaviest load it carries is its obese driver and his similarly obese family. We call them pavement princesses.
Me feel small. Me worry about masculinity. Big truck make me feel big. Big truck make me feel good.
And this is exactly why I have started referring to the massive pickup trucks as gender affirming care. It simultaneously makes fun of the “me need big truck because man” mentality, while also pissing off the types of guys who are most likely to buy the trucks. Because the guys who buy the trucks are the same guys protesting trans healthcare.
Better slap a pair of rubber testicles on the hitch receiver so people know you’re for sure a big, masculine man very secure in your manliness.
Inconveniencing everyone else is the point. That, and the belief that being in the biggest car makes you safer in a collision (by doing more damage to the other vehicle[s])
What’s wrong with jammies in public?
I hate these things. I’m driving around the suburbs of Melbourne in a 900kg hatchback carrying 3 kids and their schoolbags. I find myself constantly overtaking these things as it’s the only means of seeing past them. I’m not even courteous about it anymore.
Ok, fuck trucks and everything but this makes no sense. You can’t see past them? Why do you need to see past them? Are you tailgaiting?
I don’t tailgate, but I want to see what’s happening up ahead. Positioning plays a large part in road safety. Maintaining a safe road position requires getting in front of visual obstructions.
I should also be able to go faster. Compared to a Ford Ranger doing 100km/h, I would need to be doing 147km/h in my car to leave the same sized dent in a collision.
No offense but your arguments are not rational. You don’t need to “get in front of visual obstructions” if you’re following at a safe distance. Speed is not limited simply because “faster means more damage”, it’s limited because faster speeds means you have less time to react.
Obstructed view means you have less time to react.
Then follow at a safer distance. I’m sorry but this is driving school 101. We can complain about pickup trucks being hard to see past but it’s not like you can see past buses, or delivery vans, or other large trucks. Aggressively passing a vehicle because you can’t see past it it moronic.
You should always be leaving enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow you to stop in case of an emergency. Even a convertible that you can see perfectly overtop of might have to stop unexpectedly and if you haven’t left enough space you will rear end them.
If you don’t feel safe following a vehicle you can’t see past, it’s probably because you’re tailgaiting. Stop tailgaiting! And I know some of you are tailgaiting because it seems like 50% of drivers on highways tailgait.
I don’t follow closely. I try not to follow at all.
ok lol. Nice talking with you.
Imagine thinking other drivers won’t cut you off for attempting safe follow distance. The masses move in bumper-to-bumper pods and the only way to achieve safe following distance is to get out ahead of them, or luck into being already at the head of one of their pods.
Also, imagine thinking the only way to get and stay in front of these schmucks is to speed wrecklessly. I can pace a car in my rear-view and keep them at a safe distance even if they would rather not be. Control what you can control, or embrace the un-safe standard drone behavior, but if you evangelize the latter, you’re going to get well-deserved pushback, and likely mocked.
So you drive dangerously because you don’t like them over the countless other insane vehicles like minivans. Definitely the sane things to do!
If you think overtaking is dangerous, perhaps you should have your mega-ute taken away
They are the ones implying being antagonizing 🤷♂️
Zero issues with passing.
Lol, found the guy with self-esteem issues
Lol says the pitchfork crowd who have based their identity hating trucks.
I’m deeply sorry for thinking automatically being an asshole to trucks is childish and pointless.
Oh, I am not the danger. I assure you.
If you’re being an asshole passing or whatever you mean by ‘not courteous’ then yes you are.
In my experience, it’s the large trucks that are speeding and overtaking dangerously, not to mention driving much faster than the conditions would dictate. A rear-wheel drive vehicle with nothing in the back on an icy road is a recipe for disaster, but I see it all the time.
I’ve seen cars mostly driving like assholes. Altimas from hell and all.
Mega Ute. New favorite word.
Vehicles should be taxed by weight.
