Deputy Mayor Järvan looking into effects of car tax on Tallinn traffic

Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan has spent the past two weeks actively meeting with car and bicycle dealers based in Tallinn to assess the impact of the car tax on the capital's traffic. According to Järvan, the impact is clearly noticeable.
Last week, Järvan met with two car dealers and one bicycle dealer, with plans this week to meet with companies such as Viking Motors and Amserv. Over the course of two weeks, the deputy mayor will meet with representatives from seven car dealerships and two bicycle shops.
Järvan told ERR that, as the deputy mayor responsible for transportation, it is his duty to understand all matters related to Tallinn's traffic. He added that the car dealers have provided him with very interesting feedback during the meetings. According to Järvan, the impact of the car tax on the capital's traffic is undeniable.
"The impact is clear — for example, as more people start opting for electric cars, which are about a third heavier, there will be a greater strain on the roads, leading to increased wear and tear," said Järvan.
"There were other nuances pointed out by industry representatives as well. For instance, Estonia already ranks as the third country in Europe in terms of the average age of cars and car dealers believe our vehicle fleet will now age even further. This means more emissions in traffic and a decline in traffic safety, potentially resulting in more injuries on the road," the deputy mayor added.
Järvan also noted that dealers pointed out an increasing trend of Estonians registering their cars in Lithuania.
"Even more concerning is the current projection from car dealers, which predicts that nationwide car sales in January will amount to around 300 vehicles. This is on par with the lowest point of the 2008 economic crisis. And while December sales figures, which were widely discussed, align with 2017 levels, Estonia's car sales record still dates back to 2007," said Järvan.
The deputy mayor is also meeting with two bicycle dealers, Veloplus and Velomarket.
"One bicycle dealer I spoke with said that the car tax is unlikely to have much impact on cycling. However, one trend is clear: electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular in Tallinn. This dealer reported that electric bikes currently make up one-third of their sales and this share is expected to grow," Järvan said.
Järvan is a member of the Isamaa party, which is part of the Riigikogu opposition and has sharply criticized Estonia's vehicle tax, which took effect from January.
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Editor: Marcus Turovski