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Outrage as new Aussie car tax ignores 'dangerous' mega-utes
(au.finance.yahoo.com)
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this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
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Australians need to take this seriously—rules like this were a big factor in these killer machines becoming the norm in the US.
This is thankfully only about imports so it will limit the damage, but the coming fuel efficiency standards carve out an exception too (although I believe they are more stringent than the US standards at least).
EDIT: I was under the impression the tax only applies to private imports, but it actually doesn't. See my below comment. But it is limited to higher priced vehicles at least.
The US also has this loophole, all SUVs are classified as ‘light trucks’ and therefore don’t have to follow the more strict emissions laws. This is what led to these massive cars and trucks.
Also, the roads in many US states are falling apart and larger vehicles and trucks drive better over potholes and bad road conditions.
People prefer big SUVs and trucks when the roads are badly maintained and it will damage normal cars. The trend of larger rims with a thinner sidewall almost guarantees normal cars will have much worse ride quality and be more prone to damage and costly repairs.
The new trucks are so tall and have a massive blind spot in front, you can't see anything. They are a danger to pedestrians and children in addition to having blinding headlights that shine directly at eye level for any normal car.
Stop blaming roads on consumer trucks. Nearly all the damage is 18 wheelers. Same with the headlights they are just fine unless modified. You have zero evidence they are any brighter or aimed worse than every other vehicle on the road.
No where did I mention that the cause of road damage was caused by SUVs. I said that people prefer larger vehicles because they driver better on poorly maintained roads due to larger tires and heavy duty suspension.
Also, 18 wheelers don’t drive in residential areas and therefore don’t affect most smaller roads. Those roads fall apart due to a variety if reasons including weather and lack of maintenance and drainage.
As for your other claim, there is plenty of evidence that LED headlights are brighter. This is easily measurable and new headlights have higher lumens and a different color. Newer cars all have LED lights that are more blue than older halogen lights that were yellow.
Trucks and SUVs have gotten bigger and taller over the last 2-3 decades and those headlights are at eye level for most cars. This causes more glare and when combined with brighter LED lights that have a blue color balance lead to glare!
US laws around headlights have not been updated since the 1970s! European laws are also more strict on aiming downward to reduce glare from trucks and tall vehicles.
Since you want some proof:
Blinded by the light: Cars in the U.S. still lack glare-reducing headlights
Here is another study done by AAA: (it has pictures and comparisons so you don’t need to strain yourself reading too many big words)
COMPARISON OF EUROPEAN AND U.S. SPECIFICATION AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP PERFORMANCE
Notice those aren't limited to trucks?
Let me explain this to you using simple words:
Trucks are taller than cars.
Trucks have bright new LED headlights.
Truck lights are not pointed down enough and don’t have the same regulations as in Europe.
Since trucks are taller and have stronger, brighter lights, they blind people.
The same applies for cars with new LED lights.
Most of that but the last line is just you making up assumptions across the board. The f150 and ram are absolutely pointed down and not overly bright compared to the rest and regulation.
Yes the reg needs updating. No trucks don't do dumb shit any worse than all new cars.
Here’s a nice chart showing relative damage
But I do have to disagree. At first you can look at this chart and see proof - clearly by far most road damage will be from trucks. But the other half of the equation is how many. A highway only needs a few trucks with those numbers to create most of their damage. However many local roads rarely, if ever, get full sized trucks. If you have a residential neighborhood, long haul trucks are not a thing, and delivery trucks are much smaller. So yeah, everyone owning a monster pickup might very well cause most of the damage
Not to mention average pickup truck weight has increased since the study. Older trucks were lighter because they didn't have fully boxed frames and every p/u is an extended cab now.
Australia doesn't manufacturer cars any more. All cars in Australia are imported. Unless I'm misunderstanding your comment?
~~The law refers to cars that aren't directly sold in Australia, i.e. through private imports. So if you buy from a dealer that has a presence in Australia, the import tax doesn't apply. And it only applies to cars above a certain price I should add, hence the name: Luxury Car Tax (LCT).~~
EDIT: Actually, I'm wrong on this. It applies to retailers and wholesalers too, see: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/luxury-car-tax/when-lct-applies