People forced to use unsafe cars because of VRT

HAS anyone noticed the worrying trend in the number of small, unsafe cars involved in serious crashes?

Take some recent examples: the woman killed on the old N2 last weekend, the mother killed with her two daughters on the N8, the woman killed on the Limerick bypass, the two male immigrants killed on the N11 and the young woman killed on the M9 in the foggy morning pile-up a short while back.

All were travelling in small cars which were manifestly unsafe in the event of a significant impact, offering precious little protection for the occupants.

People are being taxed into smaller cars due to the ludicrous levels of vehicle registration tax (VRT).

Even safety features like airbags and electronic stability controls are subject to levels of up to 100% taxation (on the pre-tax price).

The effect of this is to force people to drive the vehicle they can best afford, which is often a small car suitable perhaps for city driving but absolutely unsuitable for any situation where a higher speed impact is possible.

The state of the two vehicles involved in the N8 collision showed the structural strength of the other car involved — a Volvo — and the how its passenger compartment remained largely intact.

VRT on safety features should be zero. However, it seems the Government, as in the case of its emissions-based ‘initiatives’, is more interested in retaining the VRT system than making any changes that would adversely affect that lucrative source of income.

While all road safety initiatives are based around driver education and behaviour, isn’t it about time some moves were made to improve the safety of the cars people can afford?

Peadar Gill

Crossafehin

Virginia

Co Cavan