Time to cry halt to gas-guzzling snobs

PLEASE tell me Sean O’Leary (Letters, November 15) was joking when he said gas-guzzling SUVs should not carry extra taxes.

They are mostly used as status symbols and I have never seen one of them full. Indeed most seem to have only the driver and, occasionally, a passenger.

I know of one used by a tradesman who has to carry heavy tools and who would otherwise probably need a second car. Justifiable in his case, but the others?

There is another, very simple solution which, I’m told, applies in a few countries. Forget higher tax and only allow people to buy such vehicles if they can demonstrate a clear need for them. This would avoid penalising very big families and others like farmers and tradesmen who must have them, while at the same time getting snobs off the road. Why anyone wants to waste money and damage the planet needlessly is beyond me. We can’t all cycle and public transport in Ireland is laughable, but we should make some effort.

Patrick Browne

Brugge

51 Ashleigh Park

Blackrock

Cork