Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:00 pm

Tony Blair's Labour government made a mistake in promoting diesel cars as they are now "killing people", former science minister Lord Drayson has said.

In 2001, the then Chancellor Gordon Brown introduced lower vehicle tax for diesel cars, on the grounds that they were less polluting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34407670

I said this at the time...

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:04 pm

notice he says "cars" ..no mention of the biggest culprits ...HGV's

a huge %of which fail to meet required standards....i mean..you only have to follow one to see balck smoke/white smoke/general crap and shit.....

but no....lets play hell with the evil foul car owner who dares to want his right to transport......

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:19 pm

This is probably because we now know that it's not just Volkswagon that have bypassed the emissions tests illegally..

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:24 pm

well its only a problem in cities and big towns so...........

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:32 pm

Don't forget the busses and taxis!

Worst offenders by far!

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:51 pm

Emissions testing for buses, quite interesting:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Air%20Quality%20and%20Health%20Bus%20Emissions%20Reduction.pdf

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:20 pm

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/pollution-in-london-was-much-lower-yesterday-and-the-bus-strike-is-why--eJvO9YBp5x

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:35 pm

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2394054/oxford-street-pollution-plummeted-during-bus-strike-say-scientists

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/dramatic-drop-in-london-pollution-levels-linked-to-bus-strike

Levels recorded were 52... down from the regular 172...

by Raggamuffin Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:38 pm

It's better to have buses than loads of cars everywhere though. I'd get more buses if there were ... well more of them really.

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:50 pm

But they need to be strictly regulated regarding emissions.

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 2:17 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:But they need to be strictly regulated regarding emissions.

They are, read the link, but the regulations need to be stricter.

by Tommy Monk Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:40 pm

Well, when a bus strike is on and the harmful levels of NO2 drop from 172 down to 50... that shows where the majority of pollution is coming from... and that they are still too polluting.

by Guest Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:29 pm

As I said ...its a townie problem ...so i should worry Wink

by Irn Bru Tue Oct 06, 2015 12:34 am

I would prefer to get a bus but since the Tories privatised bus services it's now crap with companies concentrating on the most productive routes leaving rural communities with stuff like 'dial a bus' or some other stupid service like that.

by Guest Tue Oct 06, 2015 12:56 am

victorismyhero wrote:As I said ...its a townie problem ...so i should worry

No it's not Victor. One of the reasons we moved was because I had a 6 month chest infection made worse by where we lived - on the edge of water meadows!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But because of a dip and the road on the edge being a route between towns, the pollution was held between the houses either side of the road, even though the water meadows that stretch for miles were at the back of the houses. The pollution levels were measured as being one of the highest in the country!

by Guest Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:59 am

Irn Bru wrote:I would prefer to get a bus but since the Tories privatised bus services it's now crap with companies concentrating on the most productive routes leaving rural communities with stuff like 'dial a bus' or some other stupid service like that.

My parents don't drive now because ill health , there is only one bus that stops near them and most of the time it never turns up.
I have complained numerous times .

by eddie Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:10 pm

Black taxis use diesel and my OH hates it!
The inside of his car is black with toxic crap and he worries about what he's breathing in, whilst working.

He's complained about the fact that taxis use diesel - but what can he do if he wants to work?

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Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

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Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister

Re: Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister