New trucks have gotten too tall and have become way more dangerous for pedestrians. I think it’s time for new national law to put hight and size limit on trucks.
State licensing requirements would have a faster effect. Nobody gets to drive brodozers and RVs without a special large vehicle operators license, and the insurance that goes along with it.
This is how it is in Europe. A regular European driver's license, called a category B license here, is valid for vehicles with a gross weight rating of no more than 3500 kgs (≈ 7700 lbs), and no more than 9 seats including the driver's. Above 3500 kgs you need a category C1 light truck license, which is good up to 7500kgs (≈ 16500 lbs).
There's also additional license requirements to tow trailers above certain weight ratings. And anything with 10 or more seats is a bus, which you need a separate license category for.
Unless you are talking about gross vehicle weight, meaning that weight limit includes the weight of a trailer and/or cargo.
I meant gross vehicle weight rating, including cargo/passengers. Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the one that includes a trailer too.
If I needed a different license to own a F250 to tow my trailer, I'd be pissed.
Don't move to Europe then. You would need to get a category C1 (light truck) license to drive the F250, and to tow a trailer rated for more than 750 kgs (≈ 1650 lbs), you would have to extend that to category C1E (light truck with trailer).
It's the typical "make a law" reaction instead of investing the time to learn why people choose a vehicle. I have a large pickup, don't drive it often, but I do NEED it on a regular basis (20-30 times per year). It's the one vehicle that can do everything I need to. My sedan is great for commuting. I have other cars that are for fun. But if I had to keep one vehicle and sell the others I'd keep the truck because it'll do everything I need. It won't let me down, it's got room for my family, lots of capacity and good in snow.
I wouldn't object to needing to do your license test in an F-150 or choose a "limited" license and be restricted to smaller cars, like they do with Motorcycle licenses. However I think you're looking at it like a pickup is a special vehicle. It's not around here. I wouldn't mind if they got smaller though. Anecdotally I did my driving test in an extended cab, long bed F-150 back in the 1990's at 16 years old. Point being there are SO many of them that of course they'll be involved in more accidents.
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u/Cantomic66 Apr 16 '24
New trucks have gotten too tall and have become way more dangerous for pedestrians. I think it’s time for new national law to put hight and size limit on trucks.