Car expert slams plan to tax poorer drivers

Proposals to make owners of less safe cars pay more in ACC levies will simply penalise the poor without improving road safety, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says the proposed changes in ACC levies were based on the mistaken belief that drivers of unsafe cars have a choice.

“Wealthy people generally drive newer cars, which are far safer than older cars. A person on a low income will have little choice but to buy an older, less safe car, simply because it’s affordable.”

“To further penalise the poor person for owning a cheaper car is bizarre. So is giving the rich man a discount on his ACC levy. A few hundred dollars a year won’t mean much to a rich person, but it will mean a lot to someone on a low income.”

Matthew-Wilson adds:

“New Zealand has one of the worst public transport systems in the developed world. Virtually every working adult has to have a car, whether they like it or not.”

“Poor people buy older, less safe cars because they lack the money to buy a newer, safer one. Penalising poor people for having less money is something that only a politician could dream up.”

ENDS

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