Are Big Cars "Dangerous” on the Road?

Why Big Cars Are Considered a Hazard on the Road

It’s no secret that South Africans swear by large vehicles, and with large wheels come bigger problems. While it may seem safer to navigate treacherous potholes and rough terrain, studies show that these cars aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be, especially the modern oversized bakkie and SUV. 

From daily dealings with cyclists and pedestrians to avoiding potholes and manoeuvring tight parking spaces, there seems to be a pattern designed to shift consumers away from buying big. 

The Role of Big Cars in South Africa

When you look at the number of bakkies and SUVs sold each year in South Africa, you’d assume everyone would be working the fields. However, gone are the days of utilising bigger vehicles exclusively for business.  Over the weekends, you’re seeing far more bakkies than you used to 30 years ago, and the numbers reflect that. 

Over the 2024/2025 period, light commercial vehicles grew from 133,250 to 143,637, a solid 7.8% increase. And based on Naamsa’s New Vehicle Sales report, aggregate industry sales of light commercial vehicles (A.K.A pick-ups) saw a gain of 23.7% in December 2025 alone. That’s not just bakkie, it includes crossovers and compact SUVs too, which now contend with the old favourite bakkie segment. 

With those numbers, people need more than just a pretty-looking car or luxury – they need versatility and then some. What we also have to consider is that everyday traffic, these affordable modern-day SUVs, and average-sized crossovers and bakkies are only half a meter higher than most passenger cars.  

Are Bakkies and SUVs a Problem on Our Roads?

The growing demand for big cars is partly due to marketing pushes from automakers, the same industry that can use this to sell at a higher price, though not much more to produce. So while manufacturers continue to meet the versatility and style that South Africans are looking for, there are a few things that aren’t being considered as a result of these vehicles. 

The question is, how are oversized vehicles a problem on our busy roads? 

Well, it’s adding onto existing issues. Think of how trucks affect our roads based on weight and driving risks? A News24 journalist reported that some studies found that motorists who drive SUVs and large vehicles are less careful on the road and engage in reckless habits than those who drive average-sized cars, because bigger somehow always means better or safer. 

Carspreading 

While people battle it out over whose features touch the sky or who can make the most noise with giant wheels, they are coming together to raise concerns about these new “monsters”. International communities have even gone so far as to enforce parking premiums on vehicles meeting certain weight limits, e.g., 2,400kg, to address the issue known as carspreading. 

City cleaning programmes are working with governments to introduce larger, by weight, tariffs to address risks created by the growing number of big cars, while also encouraging funding for infrastructure maintenance as an investment in long-term safe networks for all motorists.

Essentially, what happens overseas may probably never happen this side of town. In an effort to manage our roads, it would be more than routine maintenance to keep up with our existing road conditions. From potholes to narrower roads and active bystanders and cyclists, it has come full circle.

The Bottom Line

So, the issue here is that larger vehicles are causing more than just road issues; they could also contribute to economic challenges. Considering tariffs that would be unacceptably high for motorists, and the effort to push the local automotive industry forward rather than fall behind. 

Essentially, the more people who invest in bigger cars, the more issues we could face going forward. This includes, but is not limited to, overall driving behaviour, road use, parking, and the treatment of cyclists and pedestrians.

However, there’s some doubt that we’d ever face issues that Europe and the UK face. Car culture is incredibly different in South Africa, and it's not something dealerships and car makers take lightly, especially in the bakkie and SUV segment. 

On that note, be sure to check out all the bakkies coming to South Africa in 2026, it should be an exciting year for bakkie enthusiasts. 

For a leisurely read, learn fun facts regarding Hilux and Ranger bakkies.