LETTER: ONE consequence of the third wave of Covid-19 is that people are opting to drive rather than take public transport, causing a spike in the purchase of second-hand cars.
The Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia said the year-on-year July sales of second-hand cars rose more than 25 per cent to 37,800 units, while August and September registered over 17 per cent of year-on- year growth.
This led to an increase in carbon emissions, which has a negative impact on the environment.
One solution is to mitigate the carbon footprint of second-hand cars.
Therefore, the authorities should make it compulsory for second-hand car owners to instal a carbon emission-reduction mechanism.
This is an automatic start-stop system that uses a flywheel system to switch the engine on and off to achieve fuel savings of up to 25 per cent, thus reducing the carbon footprint.
When the system senses the driver's foot on the brakes, it shuts down the engine and disengages the transmission. When the system senses the driver's foot leaving the brakes, it restarts the engine.
Sellers of the system should promote its use on social media, especially for second-hand car owners, to reduce the environmental pollution caused by emissions.
The government could consider tax incentives for second-hand car sellers by providing them tax credit for the installation of such a system.
The government should impose fines on those motorists who emit too much carbon dioxide, such as illegal street racers.
If the situation gets worse, the government must mete out stiffer punishment to those who pollute the environment.
Other deterrent measures the authorities can consider include the introduction of road pricing to reduce the number of vehicles entering the city centre.
Former Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz was looking to introduce road pricing or congestion charges in 2016 to lower the carbon footprint.
By doing so, second-hand car buyers will reduce the number of trips to avoid road pricing, thus reducing the carbon footprint.
Singapore introduced the electronic road pricing (ERP) years ago with its ERP gantries all over the island state to reduce the number of vehicles entering the central business district (CBD) during peak hours, except on weekends and public holidays.
Many Malaysians have mistaken this for Singapore's toll system. ERP is the price one pays for contributing to congestion in the CBD during peak hours.
JAMARI MOHTAR and TAM MEI SI
EMIR Research, Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times