SUV Tyres Deflated in Rich London Neighbourhoods by Climate Activists

The emission of carbon dioxide is increasing at an alarming rate, posing a serious threat to the environment. Yet, it seems that people in the posh area of London are hardly bothered by this. To carry on a protest and spread awareness, an assembly of climate activists known as ‘The Tyre Extinguishers’ deflated the tyres of SUVs in the Kensington and Chelsea area.

Last Tuesday, about 40 SUV car owners in Primrose Hill, Dulwich, Chelsea, and Marylebone awoke to flat tyres with fake parking tickets on their windscreen. The group also targeted many other areas, such as Notting Hill, Liverpool, Brighton, and Cambridge, with the sole purpose of creating a wave of protest.

Despite the fact that the SUVs were meant for rough terrain, people living in cities contributed to the sale of much more than 350,000 SUV automobiles alone in 2019, garnering them the moniker "Chelsea Tractors." According to The Guardian, if SUV drivers were a country, they would have been the seventh-largest producers of carbon dioxide in 2018. 

The group also left a leaflet stating why they had to take such a step. They said several attempts have been made to solve the issue peacefully, but they have failed miserably every time. So, it's time to take action. Their website also has instructions on how to deflate an SUV tyre.

The “Gas Guzzler” Kills

The deflation of SUV tyres was a part of a larger UK campaign led by the activist group ‘The Tyre Extinguishers’. According to sources, they have targeted about a hundred automobiles in 13 different locations around the country.

A representative of the group said that they disarmed the SUVs because they were an unnecessary and deadly component of society. There is no need for an SUV that kills the environment. Driving an SUV in areas with excellent public transport facilities is a luxury, not a necessity, and it comes with scary environmental repercussions.

No one loves an SUV other than its owner.

The toxic gas discharged from the tractors threatens the lives of their children because it causes a lot of serious respiratory and health issues.

They also pointed out that if people spent some time researching how much pollution an SUV was causing, they would carry out the same action. Gasoline or petrol-driven SUV emits 25% more carbon dioxide than a medium-sized normal car. They are significantly more dangerous as their chances of killing a pedestrian are 11 times greater than an average car.

The group declared that they are not afraid of legal action and will continue to do so. They will also encourage others to take the same action. Their message was loud and prominent: “Listen carefully – your gas guzzler SUV is a killer.”

Why the action?

The group "Tyre Extinguishers" comprises of local people belonging to the area of Liverpool. When questioned about their actions, Marion Walker, of the group, said, the government failed to protect them, and hence, they took it upon themselves to bring out a change in society.

SUVs are a climate disaster, and they want the government to implement a ban on SUVs in urban areas. They further suggested the Tax Department to charge huge taxes for pollution from SUV owners and invest it in providing free public transport.

They are loud in their action and are pleading with other UK citizens to ‘join in’ their movement to make the SUV ban come to reality.

The action was harmless

The nationwide campaign carried on by the group is innocuous as they only targeted the rich locations around London.

The activists have avoided the poor or middle-class areas. They also stated that they didn’t deflate the tires of people with disabilities.

They had carried out thorough research on the background of these vehicle owners and targeted only the financially affluent class. They have rendered the electric and merchant vehicles harmless.

The move was condemned by the Dulwich Society, an organization promoting the interests of local people. In reaction to the ransacking and destruction of SUVs, a representative commented, "As a community, people are ecologically conscious, yet this is not who we are."

The activists, on the other hand, maintained that the cars were not harmed, but that deflating the tyres was critical to keep the 4×4 drivers in control. They should be more cautious towards the exploitation of fossil fuels and other natural resources.

More activists 

Merseyside police stated in their report that the tires of several cars were claimed to have been let down in Allerton overnight. They have received many calls from the public complaining that their tyres have been deflated on the roads of Allerton and Rose Lane.

The sting operation on Merseyside had been carried out at midnight, whereas the cars on Edale Road, Hillside Road, and Courtyard had been targeted in the early hours of the morning.

A woman complained that she “did not notice the tyre until she started driving her vehicle to the hospital with her three kids and a pet. It was an emergency situation, and luckily, they had a second car at home, "requesting police to take action as early as possible."

She also said most people are scared as there is a possibility of the group striking again and again. 

The authorities have assured the crowd that "investigations are ongoing" and that "high visibility policemen would be assigned to the afflicted area for patrol." 

Much is unknown about the individuals who make up 'The Fire Extinguishers'. However, some of them have stated that they would strike again in the near future and would not stop until it is made illegal to possess a 4X4 in metropolitan areas. Though similar actions have been taken by other climate activists, the group claims to have no links with other UK groups such as "Insulate Britain" or "Last Gasp." The unique form of protest has generated a wave of wake among the common people and has been trending on Twitter with the hashtag #TyreExtinguishers.