Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Doctors call for ban on diesel vehicles

A group of doctors are leading a campaign for London to follow in the footsteps of other European capitals and ban diesel vehicles.

Doctors Against Diesel claim 9,400 Londoners die prematurely every year, with diesel fumes at least partly to blame.

Paris and Madrid have committed to a ban on diesel vehicles by 2025, as have Athens and Mexico City.

But many opponents to the campaign say the plans are not only impractical, but could backfire.

RAC roads policy spokesman Nick Lyes has previously outlined his organisation's stance on diesel cars, claiming that suddenly demonising diesel vehicles as a whole is 'extremely short-sighted.

'Some of the newest diesel vehicles on the road are also some of the cleanest, and diesels will also play a role in helping to reduce CO2 emissions, which contribute to man-made climate change,' he said.

'The Government should instead find ways to encourage motorists to switch from the most polluting vehicles to cleaner modern vehicles, rather than punishing existing owners.

'They must also look to stimulate the modernisation of bus and taxi fleets, which can be the worst polluting vehicles in city centres.'

Doctors Against Diesel includes doctors, nurses and other health professionals. They want Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor, to commit to phasing out diesel vehicles from London.

While the Mayor has already suggested he will ban diesel buses by 2018, his spokesman says he has no legal powers to ban cars.

But Sadiq is calling on the government to implement a national diesel scrappage scheme.

In London, nearly 40% of all nitrogen oxides emissions and PM10 pollution, which is linked to decreased lung function, comes from diesel vehicles, according to the campaign.

But a spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the industry is investing billions to reduce emissions and the latest diesel cars are the cleanest in history.

Its figures claim emissions of nitrogen oxides have reduced by 84% since 2000, while new filter technology can capture 99% of all soot particles from diesel engines.

Diesel is used by the majority of commercial vehicles in the UK and many emergency services vehicles.