Do you believe it’s right to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars?

The government has announced an initiative to ban all diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040 in a bid to cut pollution. 

Environment secretary Michael Gove has warned Britain “can’t carry on” using petrol and diesel cars because of the damage they are doing to people’s health and the environment as a result of pollution.

“There is no alternative to embracing new technology,” he said. Government ministers have identified 81 major roads in 17 towns and cities around the country that are in breach of EU emissions standards and putting people’s health at risk.

Moving away from petrol and diesel vehicles is only one piece of a larger puzzle – to cut emissions people will also be encouraged to ditch cars altogether in favour of public transport or greener transportation like walking and cycling. Congestion charges and road improvements to help the flow of traffic will also factor in.

While electric cars have been available for several years, most drivers still prefer to use petrol or diesel-powered engines for a number of reasons – including the cost of adopting electric cars and the lack of infrastructure to make them convenient.

While some drivers welcome the switch to electric cars, others aren’t so sure. Do you believe it’s best to switch to electric cars? Should the government have a say in what kind of car we drive? Do you already drive an electric car? Share your views on today’s Speakers Corner topic below.