Are you a diesel driver? Your Government hates you…

2 minute read  |  March 26, 2017

But how do we save the ice caps from melting without putting in any noticeable effort? Enter the ‘diesel blame game’…

Another Government scheme

It’s been a few days since a new Government scheme was floated so it’s reassuring to hear from the Department for Transport (DfT) about plans to reduce the number of diesel cars on Britain’s roads to lower emissions and improve air quality.

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. In 2001, Gordon Brown introduced incentives for people to purchase diesel cars over petrol ones – due to the higher levels of carbon, mile for mile that petrol cars produce. That led to an increase of more than double the number of diesel cars on the road, from 3.45 to 8.1 million.

While the Government was correct in their argument that diesel cars do emit less carbon, science has since interrupted the discussion to prove that diesel cars also emit dangerously high levels of particulates (tiny soot particles) and nitrogen oxides. Now class, fire up your Bunsen burners and turn to page 17…

Surely Chris Grayling has something intelligent to add…

He said that high pollution levels are something we ‘have to deal with now.’ That’s perfect Chris, thanks for joining us.

Take with one hand…

Officials in the DfT and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are working on a scheme to offer cashback, or a discount, on low emission cars should people trade in their old, high polluting vehicles.

Talks are reported to have taken place with the treasury on how to finance the scheme – presumably they would use some of the money the NHS isn’t using – with a key focus on geographical areas with the worst recorded pollution levels.

And another thing…

As if diesel owners aren’t being alienated enough, Westminster council have announced a 50 per cent surcharge on parking rates for diesel cars in an effort to drive them out of the borough.

With news that London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has backed the Government’s ‘dirty diesel’ scrappage scheme it looks like diesel owners in London are in for a bumpy ride.

Have your say

Do you own a diesel car? What are your views on the scheme and the surcharge to parking?

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