Comments on: Do Irish Taxes Compromise the Safety of Our Cars? http://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/do-irish-taxes-compromise-the-safety-of-our-cars/ Official Used Car Check, Vehicle History Check Ireland Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:44:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shane Teskeyhttp://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/do-irish-taxes-compromise-the-safety-of-our-cars/#comment-487 Shane Teskey Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:11:19 +0000 http://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/?p=1667#comment-487 Hi Paddy, thanks for your comment. I couldn't agree more. I was at a demonstration of ESP a couple of years ago and the guy from the factory said that Ireland was a bit of a laughing stock in Europe. He made the point that the Irish will spend money on 'Active Safety' (Airbags etc.) - systems that protect you after a crash but we don't spend anything on 'Passive Safety' - systems that stop you getting into an accident in the first place! He didn't understand that our tax system makes them unaffordable. Leaving these features as 'Optional Extras' is crazy. If only it was the pedestrian who had the 'option' of having them installed! Hi Paddy, thanks for your comment.

I couldn’t agree more. I was at a demonstration of ESP a couple of years ago and the guy from the factory said that Ireland was a bit of a laughing stock in Europe. He made the point that the Irish will spend money on ‘Active Safety’ (Airbags etc.) – systems that protect you after a crash but we don’t spend anything on ‘Passive Safety’ – systems that stop you getting into an accident in the first place! He didn’t understand that our tax system makes them unaffordable.

Leaving these features as ‘Optional Extras’ is crazy. If only it was the pedestrian who had the ‘option’ of having them installed!

]]> By: Paddy Comynhttp://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/do-irish-taxes-compromise-the-safety-of-our-cars/#comment-486 Paddy Comyn Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:03:48 +0000 http://www.motorcheck.ie/blog/?p=1667#comment-486 It is a disgrace that we pay VAT and VRT on safety features in cars. We are being taxed on safety which is criminal. That is the reason you pay for things like ESP on cars - sometimes as much as €800 on a small car for something that can genuinely save your life. As a result, buyers will pay for things like alloy wheels and a sunroof but won't pay for extra airbags and ESP, while in other European countries these things are standard kit. It is a disgrace that we pay VAT and VRT on safety features in cars. We are being taxed on safety which is criminal. That is the reason you pay for things like ESP on cars – sometimes as much as €800 on a small car for something that can genuinely save your life.

As a result, buyers will pay for things like alloy wheels and a sunroof but won’t pay for extra airbags and ESP, while in other European countries these things are standard kit.

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