Drivers Could Face New Tyre Tax Charges
Drivers could face new tyre tax charges as the UK government puts forward plans to help reduce vehicle emissions. The Department for Transport is reviewing how the UK can cut down on emissions. Tyre wear causes microplastic pollutants in the environment and accounts for up to 50% of air particulate emissions. A government spokesperson told the Telegraph: ”We want to better understand the impacts of non-exhaust emissions, such as tyres, on the environment, which is why we are conducting research on the matter.”
Byt how do tyres contribute to emissions –
How Do Tyres Cause Emissions?
Believe it or not, it’s not just car engines that cause toxic pollutants. As tyres wear down the particles are released into the atmosphere. These particles can contain a range of toxic chemicals like zinc or even lead! Scientific consultants hired by the Department For Transport have said that the chemicals released from tyre wear could be even more dangerous than the fumes released by burning fossil fuels!
The U.K. continues to lead the way in transitioning to battery-powered cars (EV’S), with electric cars now outselling diesel cars, (1 in 5 cars sold in 2022 had a plug). EV’s are typically heavier than their combustion-engined rivals and could cause more wear to tyres and tarmac roads.
Recommendations on how to better assess the control of these chemicals are being considered, which will persist after transitioning to zero tailpipe emission electric vehicles.
How Will The Proposed Change affect U.K. Drivers?
There have been concerns following the announcement, over how the tax would be managed and how it would impact drivers. The additional tax could also affect driving instructors in Middlesbrough and also the prices of driving lessons in Middlesbrough.
RAC’s roads policy chief Nicholas Lyes has said: ‘Talk of a tyre tax, while incredibly premature, could do more harm than good by putting drivers off replacing worn out tyres when they should. If levied at the point of sale, it would lead to cheaper tyres being taxed more heavily as they are far more likely to wear more quickly and shed a higher number of particles into the environment than better quality ones being taxed less.
Although making cheaper tyres more expensive might prompt drivers to buy more expensive better quality tyres it may also increase the number of road users driving on illegal tyres.
Please comment below if you have any thoughts on the governments tyre tax proposal.
