Data Reporter Joseph Hook shares this latest news as part of the OnTheWight’s collaboration with Press Association and Urbs Media. Additions by Simon Perry – Ed
Tens of thousands of diesel cars and vans are still registered for use on the Isle of Wight, despite drivers being encouraged to move away from them in favour of cleaner fuels.
Figures from the Department for Transport and the DVLA show that 19,044 new and existing diesel cars were registered in 2017 in the area – 27% of all cars. There were also 9,636 registered diesel vans, bringing the total of Island diesels to 28,680.
522 more diesel cars
Despite the questions asked of diesel technology following 2015’s Volkswagen scandal, in which the German manufacturer was found to be cheating emissions tests, 522 more diesel-powered cars were registered in the Isle of Wight last year than in 2016.
The UK Government has since announced proposals to ban sales of new diesel cars from 2040, as well as exclusively petrol-powered vehicles. Around 40,000 premature deaths every year are linked to the country’s poor air quality.
Gov used to encourage diesel purchase
It signals a remarkable turnaround in the popularity of diesel, with Gordon Brown introducing tax breaks on new diesel-powered vehicles as recently as 2001.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said:
“The number of registered petrol cars reached a peak in 2004 and then began to fall as more people opted for diesel, to the point where we now have 12.3 million on Britain’s roads.
“The tide has now begun to turn as motorists go back to petrol, or choose an alternatively fuelled vehicle, as a result of emissions from diesel vehicles being found to be harmful to health.
“We are unlikely to see the number of registered diesel cars peak for a few years as, while sales of new diesels have declined, they are still contributing to their overall numbers rising as they far outweigh those being scrapped.”
Getting on for one car per adult
In total, 90,326 vehicles were registered in the Isle of Wight last year, 1,216 more than in 2016.
There were 2,562,415 diesel cars and vans registered across the South East in 2017, and 16.8 million across the UK – an increase of 3% on 2016.
