New taxes, more expensive registrations, advertising controls: the government could discourage Quebecers from buying large vehicles. But our leverage is limited and some solutions will have to come from elsewhere, experts believe.
Make them more expensive
Experts and members of civil society believe that it will be necessary to influence consumers’ wallets to influence their decision to buy light trucks or not.
For example, registering larger vehicles could become more expensive so that the cost better reflects the risk their owners pose to society, says Piétons Québec.
The kilometer tax currently being studied by the Metropolitan Community of Montreal (CMM) could take into account the size of vehicles, believes Catherine Morency, chair of mobility at Polytechnique Montréal.
It also proposes “addressing the acquisition process” with a dissuasive tax on the purchase of these vehicles.
A consensus on advertising?
A recent poll conducted by the firm Léger found that 58% of Quebecers support stricter regulation of SUV advertising.
Sandrine Cabana-Degani believes the government should act on this front, while campaigns are everywhere to convince Quebecers to buy light trucks.
“It’s very difficult to tell people: you no longer have the right to buy certain types of vehicles, but automotive advertising influences consumers’ decisions,” she argues.
Limited performance
However, Quebec relies on the market for motor vehicles, which are mainly built in the USA, Europe and Asia. This market is following the trend and offering Quebecers fewer and fewer small vehicles.
And for these manufacturers, safety testing still focuses on people in vehicles, points out Marie-Soleil Cloutier of the Road Safety Research Network.
“The problem is that crash tests are carried out for people outside the vehicle [comme les piétons], It is not mandatory. They start looking in Europe. The European Union has special committees for this purpose. »
Another obstacle: “We don’t have much control over the vehicle manufacturers. It is under federal jurisdiction and we are the smallest players [au Canada] », adds Ms. Cloutier.