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?

we have a diesel car and our kids are still alive

Museum, I was thinking of asking the same question’

I will sell mine today OP.

Oh wait! Who will I sell it to? Another kiddie killer 🙄

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

Don't be so bloody ridiculous.

DP also bought a diesel car about three years ago because he was told and believed it was the greener more efficient option.

We can't afford to replace it at the moment, but we'll deduct the fact we haven't been on a plane since 1998 from the equation, multiply it by us working from home and thus not needing to drive as much these days and divide it by us becoming full time foster carers for vulnerable kids and, fingers crossed, God will let us off the ones we bump off with the evil diesel.

I posted about diesel because I wanted to talk about diesel specifically. I think the details of my personal "green credentials" (do I drive, fly, how many kids) would just distract from that. And no, I'm not a journalist or writing a paper.

I really want a diesel car now.

Preferably a 4x4.

The engine in our petrol car failed spectacularly, and a family member let us buy his diesel car from him very cheaply. We had no choice, as we needed a car, and couldn’t afford much, and his car was newer and a far better brand than anything we would’ve been able to afford if we’d bought privately.

We live in London, and now have the T Charge to pay (£21.50) for a diesel car to enter the congestion charging zone. It’s incredibly difficult for a pregnant woman and her toddler, pushchair and changing bag etc to use the tube, so it isn’t a viable option for some people.

I wouldn’t mind the T Charge, but next to fuck all help has been given to help people like us purchase a car with friendlier emissions. My DH was looking at electric cars the other day, but the schemes the government have put in place to ‘assist’ people purchase these only apply to the newer and more expensive models.

We therefore can’t afford an electric car, and if we bought a petrol car, it would be a bad financial decision for us, as we can’t afford anything that’d be very reliable for very long.

We are completely stuck between a Labour Mayor who is trying to do good, but failing to keep his city accessible to many people with less disposable income, who like us, usually vote Labour, and the Tories, who are not doing nearly enough (surprise surprise) to enable people to buy cleaner vehicles.

OP how many children do you have, and do you eat meat?

In fact, OP - do you and your children eat anything? - it will have been delivered by a diesel child killing truck.

Op I have to say I agree to an extent.
When we got our diesel car I had not idea and couldn't even drive then. FIL pushed and pushed DH to get a diesel car and they were all the rage, he - we didn't think twice about it, it was all about cost, that was FILS main priority, Now I have a new child ( since car purchased) who gets breathing issues, its terrifying, and when she has been very ill and rushed to hospital ( twice) the ward is full of dc with same thing, the docs say its a change of air but our area is one of worst from pollution and I wonder if its not particularity bad pollution days thats triggering it.

I did write to a few bodies who are trying to highlight air pollution to see if they can link it up with readings in areas and admissions to hospital for dc....but no one was interested.

we cannot afford to get rid of our car yet but the next one will def be petrol.

Now that people are aware of the damaging impact of diesel vehicles
they can make an informed choice when buying a new car.

The toxic PM2.5 particles in diesel emissions are also emitted in strong concentrations from wood burners (even the defra approved clean stoves) so I think they will soon be in the same pollutants category as diesel cars.

www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2757/rr-1

Why aren't people in the UK more upset at being ripped off?

Op.... are you from the UK ?

I think this article is very interesting. Already linked up thread.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/howtoxiccisyourrcar_exhaust

A long read but tackles the issues in a sensible way that is accessible for people who aren't engineers.

The Equa Index sounds like a MUCH more reliable guide than anything published by car manufacturers or the flawed "official" tests.

@SockEatingMonster If you haven't already, you should look for news articles on this issue. Specifically on health effects and emissions tests cheating.

If your issue is ‘killing people’, Can I ask if you have recently bought clothes made in a sweat shop (very likely) or even better if you have got rid of all electronic devices in your house as they are are full of very rare minerals and those mineral are mined in horrible conditions (think slavery and child labour)?
There are plenty of other issues like this around (eg chocolate and the destruction of the amazon forest, cheap plastic tat for children etc)
Is that not a scandal too??

Re the government, you also need to remember that most cars aren’t 1 or 2 years old. Mine is 10years old or so. I do hope that it will carry in for another 5 years.
The problem is, 10~15 years ago, our knowledge of the effect of has changed A LOT. No way that 15 years ago we wouod have had that knowledge, nor wouod the government had deliberately missold those awful Diesel engines then.
You can wonder why the government isn’t tackling that issue NOW (like they do in other countries where new diesel cars will be banned IN A FEW YEARS TIME). But I think it’s busy with other more pressing issues atm .

What you can’t do is putting your finger at people for daring to use a diesel car, telling them they are deliberately killing people whe yourself will be doing something similar when buying an electronic device, chocolate, no bio products etc etc.

Fwiw, even they wanted to many people couldn’t actually just replace their diesel car. They just dont have the money for that....

Link to Equa Index

emissionsanalytics.com/equa-index/

So OP then think about your phrasing better, because you sound ridiculous as well as cagey and people don't well respond to that.

If your intention was genuine (and I am being charitable here) then you need to understand that you have come across so far both in your original post and subsequent ones as goady and totally lacking in understanding for peoples circumstances as well as entirely unresponsive or involved in the discussion. Almost as if you are just gathering information...

And op.... why have you name changed just for this?

We can’t search your previous posts to see what child killing practices you engage in..... but I guess that’s why you have namechanged isn’t it? Because you are being goady...

Yes Trafalgar

A very cowardly op here. And goady. Don’t know if I’ve said that yet!

I posted about diesel because I wanted to talk about diesel specifically. I think the details of my personal "green credentials" (do I drive, fly, how many kids) would just distract from that. And no, I'm not a journalist or writing a paper.

If you're not a journo but a regular Mner looking to have a reasonable debate, then your OP was too goady and judgemental imo. And if you're not willing to share any of your personal habits (because God forbid you should be judged when you're judging others), then you could still respond to people's reasons for not giving up their diesel cars.

Where are people supposed to find the money? What about the environmental impact of scrapping a functioning car to get another one? What if people are worried that in a few years' time the advice will change again, as it did recently?

You've started a debate but you won't engage. Poor form.

Btw the issue isn’t about you being green and your credentials.
It’s about not the fact that th8sg are MUCH MORE COMPLICATED than you want.
You can’t get rid of diesel trucks. They need to power you dint get from petrol engines.
You need to eat. The food will be delivered by truck and train or plane.

If you are REALLY concerned about the effect of pollution form transport, these are also things you need to take into account. Incl the effect of transporting food by plane.

On the other side, a full on emotive title in your thread about diesel drivers killing people is deterring from the complexity of the issue as well as the the ability to find solution - because it is not and never will be just about diesel cars (which are a small part of the overall issue of air quality)

We can’t search your previous posts to see what child killing practices you engage in..... but I guess that’s why you have namechanged isn’t it? Because you are being goady...

It's a great name though.

Credit where it's due. I wish she'd keep it.

When a petrol or electric car is capable of what my diesel 4x4 is and still gets 30+mpg - and costs under £7k - i'll buy it.

Until then, yes OP, i am quite happy with that.

And you not wanting to discuss your environmental impact isn't "distracting from the topic" it's because you KNOW it is hypocritical.

The number one issue on our planet is too many people - do you have kids?

Buying food shipped in from all over the world is high up the list too - do you grow all your own food?

Go on planes?

Drive anywhere where you could walk / cycle?

Buy all locally made clothes?

You can't simply pick 1 (minor) point like diesel cars and feel smug because you don't have one without acknowledging all the far bigger issues (which no doubt you contribute to).

@RunningOutOfCharge I'm from the UK and I live in the UK after spending many years abroad. I believe my absence from the UK during the rise of diesel may be part of reason my views on diesel are different than the majority? It seems obvious to me that you've all been sold lies and the air pollution here is literally disgusting. I don't understand why you're not mad as hell about it. The car companies should be buying vehicles back off you. The government should apologize. The public should demand action.

People should replace their diesel cars at the end of the car's life. You cannot be advocating scrapping functional practically new cars.

There are very few good environmental options just lesser degrees of bad.

Our family focus is zero waste and no new plastic.