The government should introduce a car scrappage scheme as soon as possible. It would save hundreds of lives thanks to the safety benefits of newer cars, says the AA’s president, Edmund King.
The AA believes a car scrappage scheme would enhance safety, the environment and business.
Replacing older cars with new increases safety thanks to the dramatic improvements in car technology over the last 10 years.
This includes the widespread use of ABS anti-lock brakes; anti-skid Electronic Stability Control; and an increase in 5 star EuroNCAP tested and approved occupant protection.
Research published by the Department for Transport in June 2007 found that vehicles equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) are 25% less likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those without it.
If every vehicle on the road were fitted with ESC, this would equate to approximately 380 fewer fatal accidents in Britain each year.
The research concluded that ESC was especially effective in helping to prevent crashes that involved a vehicle skidding or overturning. ESC has the potential to reduce serious accidents like this by up to 59%. As well as this, it concluded that ESC could offer additional benefits in adverse road conditions such as wet or snowy weather.
Many older vehicles are driven by young drivers – the most at risk group on the roads. Many of their accidents come from loss of control, often brought about by bravado and the desire to impress their friends and passengers.
The removal of older cars from the road, and their replacement by newer ones, will have a major effect on this high risk age group, where fatal crashes often mean multiple fatalities. A scrappage scheme linked to easier access to finance would be a major boost to the economy and would save lives.
Advantages of car scrappage
- Incentive to get older cars off the road
- Removes bigger polluters and increases use of Euro IV vehicles
- Removes less safe cars and replaces them with safer vehicles
- Helps motor industry by increasing sales
- Cost minimised as Treasury benefits from new car sales
- tax, VAT and lower accident rates
- Builds confidence in car markets
- Benefits low income motorists
- Re-cycles cars that would otherwise be dumped or used by motoring underclass
A scrappage grant could act as a deposit to secure a loan.
In terms of cost such a scheme could be self-funding.
The government will benefit from new car taxes; VAT; and reduced carbon and accident costs. The UK economy would also benefit from an increase in new car sales.
Car sales in Germany have jumped over 20% since a scrappage scheme was introduced.
