Motor trade is selling speed
Tuesday July 25 2006
Why has this blatantly obvious point been overlooked?
The answer is, because no one wants to look at the motor trade, and how it convinces people, thjrough advertising, that they need these rockets.
Not only is the advertising of speed as being 'cool' causing people to drive irresponsibly, but the 'leper syndrome' has created a far more sinister situation.
For many years now, advertising of new cars has focussed on a forced perception that one is socially inferior if one does not drive a new car. This means many drivers of newer cars actually think they have greater rights on the roads.
That is my theory.
Otherwise, explain to me why an executive driving a new Audi tries to do a two-lane race with someone driving an old car who is attempting to overtake.
I am sorry to see that our environment Minister has fallen for the same "old car, bad person" trade propaganda.
In Minister Roche's recent Newsletter to the residents of Bray, we see a picture of a burnt out Fiat Punto, with some words about disposing of 'bangers'. A 1995 Fiat Punto is not a banger, nor is it enviornmentally unfriendly.
In fact the needless disposal of good cars is environmentally unfriendly. As any scrapyard owner will tell you, thousands of quite new, good cars have been sent to the crusher for the want of a couple of hundred euro spent on repairs. Nor do cars "wear out" at 50,000 miles anymore.
Until we take a root and branch look at the socio/speed/new car mentality which the trade has carefully crafted for a decade, the carnage will continue. ANTHONY HALPIN, ASHTON WOOD, HERBERT ROAD, BRAY, CO WICKLOW
