Last Christmas one our cherished neighbours came round for a drink. As we laid the year to rest the topic turned to their new Car. Well, not a car, but a 4x4. An urban 4x4. Well, they feel they need it because it is spacious. They need the space for the extended family although there is only normally two of them. Now, I am never one to ram my opinions down other people’s throats so I was my usual - quiet and respectful. I showed no sign of outrage or disapproval. However, the table were turned when I was asked about what my next car would be.

Without hesitating I said “An LPG powered Smart ForTwo” (pointing out that it won’t be long before nobody has a car, let alone deserve one, would probably be pushing things too far). My neighbour’s jaw dropped. She said “But they are really dangerous”. Some of my calm started to slip. How can anyone who drives a 4x4 in the town tell me that a small car is dangerous?! It was my turn for outrage. Counting to ten I calmly pointed out that small cars are only in danger from BIG 4x4’s. I then pointed out the 4x4’s are a big danger to their occupants as they are more prone to roll over. They are more likely to run someone over. They are a danger to other post-carbon forms of transport such as cyclists.

Owning a 4x4 is like escalating the cold war on the roads. I will be safer than YOU if I have a bigger car than you! Where will this logic end? Should we all drive armoured tanks? That is the logical conclusion. Driving is very safe as long as you are driving a tank. 4x4's are derived from military vehicles. It is a very apt. My neighbours do not live on an isolated farm. In fact many people on isolated farms don’t even need 4x4’s unless they actually go off road. Then there are very few pedestrians and cyclist out there in the countryside. They should be diesels so they can run on bio-diesel produced locally.

There is no place for a petrol 4x4 in my street - let alone my town.

The whole episode is an interesting illustration of the bizarre way that the current consensus trance over takes people to the point that they are completely divorced form reality. People will use any rationale – however irrational, to justify their choice. A 4x4 is an utterly selfish and shortsighted choice given the state of the world we live in. Is there no shame, no guilt? What there is, is a gap. My wonderful neighbour is a wonderful illustration. A lovely person – not the devil – just making very bad choices. There is a gap between her understanding of the world and what is happening. Education is required.

I am the last person to recommend interfering with a market but our irrational love affair with unnecessary vehicles is a prime target for “choice editing”. Petrol obviously needs to be a lot more expensive. Vehicle Tax on large vehicles needs to be sky-high (unless you are a builder or farmer). TV adverts are needed to educate the public. Who cares if the Car Makers scream? So did cigarette manufacturers but nowadays everyone knows that smoking kills you. The paradigm shift needs to happen. 4x4’s need a health warning and be as socially unacceptable as public nudity. You want to go naked outside? Go to a nudist beach. Want to drive a 4X4? Be a farmer.