Government must tackle the real vehicle polluters

13 July 2007

Government must tackle the real vehicle polluters

The Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association (IMVDA) believes the current proposals to deal with vehicle air pollution do not tackle the main problem and may make things worse, chief executive David Vinsen said today.

"He was commenting on a Government study indicating 1100 premature deaths each year as a result of air pollution. A proportion of these are attributable to vehicle exhaust emissions.

"The real problem is the dirty vehicles currently being driven in the country. The used vehicle trade is united in recommending that Government takes bold action to deal with this problem, but the Government seems reluctant.

"Instead, they have announced a series of ad hoc interventions for vehicle imports that will not be effective. Their own research shows that their latest proposal will only reduce air pollution from vehicles by a maximum of half a percent over the next 18 years. This is obviously not good enough."

"What will happen is that supply of good used vehicles will be limited, prices will go up and kiwi motorists and businesses will not be able to afford to replace their dirty old vehicles with cleaner, safer ones. People must be able to afford to update their vehicles"

"It is the old vehicles in the fleet that are emitting gases that are harmful to the environment and our health; this is where Government needs to be directing its attention" he said.

"The used vehicle trade has recommended an integrated long-term strategy for the management of the national vehicle fleet. Such a strategy could include issues such as targets and timelines for:

* reducing the average age of the fleet over time,
* improving the level of technology in our vehicles,
* the size and composition of the fleet,
* mechanisms for monitoring and management of the fleet.

Vinsen said that the IMVDA and the used vehicle trade has offered to assist Government in developing sustainable policies that will be effective in improving the national fleet of vehicles, with the benefits of improved safety, a better environment and improved public health for all New Zealanders.

"We strongly encourage Government to identify and take the necessary action to deal with the real problem" he said.

ENDS

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