Exclusive: UK climate campaign group Possible calls for ‘polluter pays’ tax based on vehicle size

The increasing popularity of ultra-heavy SUVs in England means a conventional-engined car bought in 2013 will, on average, have lower carbon emissions than one bought new today, new research has found.

The study by the climate campaign group Possible said there was a strong correlation between income and owning a large SUV, which meant there was a sound argument for “polluter pays” taxes for vehicle emissions based on size.

  • GreatAlbatrossMAEnglish
    201·
    8 months ago

    Not to mention that they require no additional driver training.
    You can pass your test in a Ford Ka, then hop in a 2 tonne range rover the next day.

    • JokeDeity@lemm.eeEnglish
      6·
      8 months ago

      I’ve never even considered that, but it is wild. Like those grandmothers who have spent 60 years driving tiny little cars and then one day their family gets them a fucking tank to drive around in and they suddenly start putting everyone’s lives at risk because they have zero experience behind the wheel of a vehicle that’s at least double the size of what they drove their entire life beforehand.

      • Rambler@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        Good point. Let’s make every new passer drive an old banger for a year - I’m absolutely fed up of monkey-lipped young girls forcing me to my side of the road because they can’t fucking negotiate the width of their fucking tractors!

        Sorry for the rant, but I drive a classic - and it fucking riles me - every day ! I used to enjoy driving - now it’s a daily nightmare.

        • JokeDeity@lemm.eeEnglish
          31·
          8 months ago

          What does monkey-lipped mean, I’ve literally never heard that phrase?

            • QxzkjpEnglish
              2·
              8 months ago

              What you’re describing is actually collagen filler, not botox. If you botoxed your lips you’d end up with a serious speech impediment for a few months. Back in the day we used to call it the “Leslie Ash special”, after a celeb who had a particularly disasterous one done.

      • GreatAlbatrossMAEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        You can use the motorway with a an accredited driving instructor before you pass.

        The motorway can be an odd one too: The speeds are higher, but they can be one of the safest ways to drive.

        Afaik, the reason motorways don’t feature on the test, is that some test centres are 50 miles or more away from one