Full disclosure: yes, this article is by me.
In theory it sounds like a good idea, but all of these plans miss one crucial point…
Criminals don’t care if they break the law.
If someone is to the point of driving a car through a crowd, not having a car isn’t going to stop them, just like how not having a gun didn’t stop them, just like how not having a knife didn’t stop them.
I’m not saying don’t do anything, I just don’t think punishing everyone because criminals are criminals is the answer.
People also makes this argument about guns, and yet gun controls work!
You are right, of course, that if someone really wants to hurt lots of people, they will likely find a way to do it. But that’s no reason not to put barriers in their way. As for ‘punishing the rest of us’, I’m not sure that making cars a bit lighter amounts to a punishment!
I mean, the reason why cars are so bulky is that the government makes it cheaper for automile manufacturers to produce SUVs than any other car. If we really want to make the streets safer, we should tackle that issue first, rather than planning on adding taking away one’s driver’s licence as punishment.
Furthermore, there is a need for cars, as public transportation in some areas just isn’t good enough. Taking away one’s ability to legally drive a car is then not just an inconvenience, but might make it nigh impossible for some people to live.
Look at how we dealt with guns
Here in the US we can’t even manage that. Guess I’ll just die.
