With the world focusing on the upcoming COP26 in Scotland, IAM RoadSmart has asked its members what issues they think delegates should address to ensure fair treatment for all road users. COP26 will play a key role in setting the future agenda for green travel, as well as signposting the future of driving and riding.
The IAM RoadSmart poll found that by far the top concern for our members was lack of support for the transition to Electric Vehicles and the impact of the 2030 target to replace fossil fuelled vehicles. This was followed by worries about the way we will pay for driving and riding in the future as well as the impact of CO2 targets on day-to-day travel.
We asked what the top issues IAM RoadSmart members wanted to see discussed at COP26, and here’s what they said:
70% rated the lack of support for the transition to electric vehicles such as better infrastructure, lower costs and higher range as their top issue
62% wanted more clarity on the impact on people’s lives of the cut off dates for replacing fossil fuelled vehicles with zero emission alternatives
43% wanted to hear more about the impact that new even tougher CO2 targets might have on the use of cars and bikes for pleasure
40% were concerned about the personal economic impact of policies such as congestion charging, low emission zones and pay per use that might be applied to driving and riding
36% of people asked felt that there was a lack of any discussion on the benefits of driver and rider training to be included in the agenda
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart said: “Our members want to play their part in improving the environment, however they feel there is not enough support from the government to assist in a smooth transition to zero carbon transport. Alongside the financial incentives, there needs to be a much quicker push on providing EV charging infrastructure and encouraging drivers to rethink the way they fuel and use their vehicles.
Alongside the fears about evs, it is clear that for many IAM RoadSmart members driving and riding for pleasure is something that they feel has been forgotten about by politicians, but is still a past time that they feel should be factored in. Not surprisingly the other main area of concern was the uncertainty on road taxes in the future. We all know that diesel and petrol rake in billions for The Treasury but what will they be replaced by in a future world dominated by the kilowatt hour?
These are all big questions, so it is vital that the politicians and experts attending COP26 deliver clear answers for the millions of drivers and riders waiting anxiously to hear their fate.
*Article Source www.facebook.com/iamRoadSmart
