Warning over number of older cars on road

The average age of the nation’s cars is set to rise above 10 years in 2015 creating significant road safety issues, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry has warned.

SIMI’s industry review for the second quarter, written by economist Jim Power, reports that in the first half of the year, the total number of new cars registered at 65,704, was 23.4% higher than the first half of 2013.

The review noted car sales in the first nine days of this month reached 74,911 which, it said, represents an increase of 28% on the same period last year and is ahead of the full year sales in 2013.