Move to ban 'deadly' bull bars

A ban on four-wheel drive cars with "bull bars" came a step closer today after the Government said it was backing an EU-wide move to make them illegal.

As Ken Livingstone stepped up his war on all 4x4s, the Department for Transport revealed it was supporting a Brussels directive to outlaw the metal bars by 2007.

The European Commission is considering the directive to tackle so-called "aggressive" bull bars that are seen as more deadly to pedestrians, particularly children, in any crash.

A spokeswoman for the DoT said: "We would support a ban in principle because it would be in line with our wider policy of reducing pedestrian casualties."

The Mayor urged ministers to act as new research by Transport for London (TfL) found that large 4x4s are more than twice as likely to kill pedestrians as normal cars. Among the moves he recommends are adding a surcharge to Vehicle Excise Duty, British support for an EU-wide ban on bull bars and tougher pedestrian safety standards for manufacturers.

The Mayor also said the industry should be more responsible marketing "sports utility vehicles" (SUVs), as they are "often aggressively targetedat urban users". TfL has blocked the Mayor's plan to impose a higher congestion charge on SUVs, estimated to make up one in seven of all cars in the capital.

It suggests tougher pedestrian safety ratings should be applied to large models.

TfL found that in road accidents, 11.5 per cent of pedestrians hit by large SUVs are killed, compared to 4.5 per cent of pedestrians hit by smaller cars.

The Mayor's transport chiefs also found that large SUVs can emit up to four times as much carbon dioxide as more environmentally friendly cars, as well as higher levels of potentially deadly particulates. Mr Livingstone said the evidence that 4x4s were more deadly than other cars was "dramatic".

Transport Minister Tony McNulty will now consider Mr Livingstone's demands, with the plan for an EUwide ban on bull bars most likely to top his list.