RAI Association warns: Mobility threatens to become unaffordable due to cabinet plans
Car user pays the price
The cabinet’s latest budget makes it clear that Dutch motorists must contribute heavily to the treasury.
The cabinet wants to raise as much as 19.3 billion euros by increasing taxes on cars and fuel.
Chairman Frits van Bruggen understands that money has to come in, but comments on how.
“The charges continue to rise and the price of mobility is now too high for many people,” he says.
Research shows that one in ten Dutch people can no longer afford the cost of a car, which particularly affects people with lower incomes.
Mobility is essential to freedom
Van Bruggen emphasizes that mobility is much more than just owning a car.
It is about the freedom to participate in social life.
“Whether it’s traveling to work, visiting a sick family member or simply being able to pursue your hobbies, mobility is a basic need,” he states.
The RAI Association believes that this freedom should not only be guaranteed to those with fat wallets.
Therefore, they advocate for affordable solutions such as electric scooters and company cars and more support for alternative means of transportation such as lease bikes.
Electric drivers the brunt
Not only are the costs for traditional cars rising, but drivers of electric cars are also getting the bill.
The government is going to phase out tax breaks for electric vehicles, which Van Bruggen says not only affects the wallet, but also the climate.
“We already see that sales of electric cars are declining. If the government also starts cutting back on incentives, it will only make it harder to meet the climate goals.”
Road safety seems to be an afterthought
There are also concerns in the area of road safety.
According to the RAI Association, the cabinet is not investing enough in measures to reduce the number of traffic casualties.
“Something is said about possible measures, but that is all. Road safety should be much higher on the agenda,” Van Bruggen said.
He stresses the importance of strict enforcement to combat traffic violations.
Zero-emission zones
Starting in 2025, municipalities will have the opportunity to introduce zero-emission zones, but the government is now proposing to delay this.
This creates great uncertainty for companies that have already invested in sustainable vehicles.
“This kind of half-hearted measure creates confusion,” says Van Bruggen.
“Entrepreneurs have been preparing for the introduction of these zones and now the government keeps hesitating. This creates chaos.”