Diesel cars should be phased out to stop pollution deaths, says Chief Medical Officer

Diesel cars should be phased out to stop pollution deaths, says UK Chief Medical Officer Road usage in Britain is at record levels, with an estimated 320 billion vehicle miles travelled in the year ending September 2016, contributing to about a third of air pollution in urban sites. The government is facing huge pressure to phase out diesel cars, or tax their owners, after missing European emissions targets for cutting pollution. Limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were introduced by EU law in 1999, and were to be achieved by 2010 but the Government has consistently missed targets and is facing millions in fines. In November the High Court ordered the Department for the Environment to come up with a new strategy for cutting fumes by the summer. Motoring groups believe that diesel car and truck owners will be incentivised to scrap their vehicles or face heavy taxes, because they emit the largest amount of nitrogen dioxide and particulates. See http://ift.tt/2ixxt39