| SUV's face perception challenges |
|
| Written by Administrator | |
| Wednesday, 31 January 2007 | |
|
Sport-utility vehicles are growing in popularity in the European market. And as in the U.S., a growing number of drivers and legislators want to do something about it. SUV's come under increasing pressure across Europe with plans to curb their use being mooted in the UK, Netherlands and here at home. Irish legislators have looked at the issue and there are rumours of increasing parking charges in Dublin City for SUV owners, even outside their own homes. Once this begins and a neat revenue source for local authorities, expect it to grow in popularity across the country. In the city of London, plans to punish drivers of SUV's are afoot as Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer and possibly the next prime minister of Great Britain, is threatening to impose a gas-guzzler tax on SUVs under the guise of fighting climate change. Brown is getting help from London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who wants to triple the entry toll for city streets for large vehicles like SUVs from about €15 to €50. The increased tolls would also apply to the Ford Mondeo wagon and Chrysler minivans. Understandably, sales of SUVs in the greater London area are sliding. The situation is much the same in the Netherlands. Last year, the city of Nijmegen tried to outlaw SUVs in city driving, but could not change the laws because of another law that says municipalities cannot decide which cars can park where, once they have been made legal on Dutch roads. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Custom Search
Most Popular - Features
- Budget 2008 – Thumbs up for diesel drivers
- Ford unveils new face of Focus
- Gay Byrne and Marty Whelan open new Galway Dunnes Stores
- Hats off to millinery genius
- Saab adds more than style to new 9-3 models
- Steady rather than heavy hand needed to improve road safety
- Bypassing concerns could be the real challenge
- New Galway/ Dublin train times
- Sp€nd Christmas in Galway
- Basics must come before developments rolled out
Random Features Articles
- Forum to discuss viability of Biofuels as a sustainable fuel
- Twice the business for Irish companies
- The House Hotel makes top five luxury destinations
- Adventures in Reading - 16th January 2008
- A house by the river
- GUH 'subject' of art exhibit
- Fluid traditional sounds at the crane bar
- Lisa's style advice - 17th September 2008
- Feast of traditional and Celtic music
- Galway’s first Americana festival
Copyright © 2008 Galway Independent - part of IFNGROUP. Website design & web development by NuaDesign.
