To think that people that drive diesel cars know that they're killing children

[dieselKiller]

Diesel cars are destroying our towns and villages. The health effects on kids are particularly bad. People must know this by now. So AIBU to think that people who drive diesel cars know that they're killing kids (and everyone really)?

It's like smoking: it's not possible to smoke in public without affecting others' health. This seems to have been accepted by most people. What makes diesel different?

[AppleKatie]

um nope.

[Sirzy]

Unless you lead a perfectly “green” life I don’t think you can judge others really.

Don’t forget for many years diesels were sold as being better

[Caselgarcia]

Just cars? Not buses or lorries?

[DressedCrab]

We bought ours because we were told it was environmentally better. Give us some money for a new one and we'll gladly get rid of it.

[makeourfuture]

The statistics are truly shocking.

There are better ways.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Well in 2009 when I bought my car the government operated a car scrappage scheme and they gave me a £2k discount on my car - so I was incentivised to buy it. They were deemed more environmentally friendly at the time.

It’s only got 50,000 miles on it so it’s still more environmentally friendly than scrapping it.

If they do another scrappage scheme I will scrap it and buy whatever car they deem most environmentally friendly at the time.

[CruCru]

To be fair, people bought diesel because they thought it was greener (and cheaper to run).

To be really green, everyone would give up their cars. I only know one family who’ve actually done this.

[DonkeyOaty]

Oh. That's us told, then!

[Anatidae]

Unless you’re actively roaming the village knocking down children, tweedy spinsters and the vicar like skittles, then I think your post is a tad hyperbolic.

It also reads like an assignment prompter: ‘controversial! Discuss!’ So you should probably work on your essay/column in a more subtle way.

[Hereward1332]

as opposed to all the nutrients that spew out of petrol engines and electricity generating power stations?

[ChocolateDoll]

[latebreakfast]

YABU

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

What laurie and dressed said

Dh does hope to replace his car....but only when the thing is on its last legs

Our cars are well old...comparatively

And only one of them is diesel

Oh and dh works in a local city which will be banning them from the town centre in the next few years

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Are you always this sanctimonious?

[dieselKiller]

I mention cars (not buses or lorries) because I assume that most people here drive cars (not buses or lorries). Buses and lorries are also a problem and if anyone here drives one or is responsible for purchasing, feel free to chime in.

[makeourfuture]

electricity generating power stations

Centralised power generation is much more environmentally friendly.

[ShatnersWig]

Over dramatic much?

Strange. Only diesel cars? What about diesel trucks, diesel busses, diesel tractors?

I don't think diesel cars are destroying our towns and villages. I don't see houses falling down because of diesel fumes. I don't see hundreds of people dropping dead due to passing diesel vehicles (not just those cars you mention) leaving villages bereft of people living there so that the village then dies.

I'll tell you what has caused far more damage that diesel fumes. People having children. Seriously. Look at how population has grown in the last 100 years compared with the previous 2,000, despite advances in contraception. The amount of forests we've destroyed has done far more damage to the atmosphere than diesel fumes because they gave out oxygen to counteract other gases.

I find a lot of the people who claim to be very environmentally friendly tend to have two or more children. Each of whom will have a car by the time they are 20 at the latest, pouring more noxious fumes into the air, producing more waste, etc etc

I take it you don't have any children OP, only drive a wholly electric car (not a hybrid), recycling everything you possibly can, grow your own veg and keep chickens for eggs and a cow for milk to minimise food miles?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Well my diesel is so environmentally friendly i only have to pay £35 a year tax. Very low emissions and its 8yo. So theyre not all the same.

[LaurieFairyCake]

How about you actually address the points raised about the scrappage scheme?

[amistillsexy]

Until very recently, Governments were telling us to buy diesel cars, as they are/were thought to be more efficient on long journeys.
I own a 14 year old diesel car (people carrier) which I intend to keep for at least until my kids have left home. I have it serviced regularly, keep it in very good condition and use the more expensive fuel every 4 fill ups to keep the engine clean.
Would you have me scrap this perfectly good and useful car, and buy a new one? Would scrapping all those diesel cars that are on the road before they break help the environment any more?
Surely all car use is detrimental to the environment, as is excessive consumption of resources in any context.

[VivaLeBeaver]

And I hope you cycle everywhere Op. Petrol cars can be just as bad.

[gamerchick]

Ah but cars are important didn’t you know OP. Replace cars with a whisp of smoke in public and you’ll get the passing out from asthma attacks and I’m pregnants crowd who will do the hung drawn and quartered thing with you

Cars are bad for our health full stop but people won’t quit them until they’re a vaping alternative.

[thegoodnameshadgone]

Mine is a company car and it is less tax as it was at the time I ordered, sold as better for the environment.

[TheWhyteRoseShallRiseAgain]

Does an electric car pull a 2.5 ton load of veg yet like our jeep or a 4 ton load like our Land Rover?

[gamerchick]

*there is a