Motor industry seeks to end tax on safety features

THE motor industry wants the Government to abolish punishing rates of up to 30% tax on car safety features like airbags and anti-locking brakes.

The call from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry comes as road deaths over the weekend bring to 303 the number of people killed in accidents so far this year.

“Safety features like airbags and ABS brakes should be encouraged and not punished through tax,” said SIMI chief executive Cyril McHugh. “If every car had an extra airbag, then the effect on road safety in terms of reducing fatalities and injuries would be worth it. The reduction in tax would be off-set by the reduction in (Government) spending on dealing with road accidents.”