ACC changes would penalize poor people expert

Proposals to make owners of older, less safe, cars pay more in ACC levies than those in newer, safer, cars, will simply penalise the poor, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says: “Poor people buy old cars because they have little money. Penalising poor people for having little money is something that only someone in Treasury could dream up.”

“The simplest way to ensure that poor people drive safer cars is to ensure that government departments buy the safest cars in their class. That way, in five or ten years time when these same cars are bought by poor people, the poor people will be driving safer vehicles.”

“The government is also ignoring proven ways to lower the road toll, such as upgrading the seatbelts in older vehicles, and most importantly of all, ensuring that all cars have automatic headlights. Countries where cars drive with their headlights on at all times have a significantly lower road toll.”