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Despite the reduction in excise duties, the high petrol prices continue to influence the car use of Dutch people. This is evident from the most recent members poll of the ANWB. A quarter of the members even state that the current fuel prices are in financial difficulties. The ANWB believes that the excise duty reduction should remain in force to prevent large groups of people from being restricted in their mobility. 

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, fuel prices have soared. This has a major impact on the car use of Dutch people. The most recent poll by the ANWB, which was held in July, shows that 59% adjust their car use. If prices remain this way, 22% plan to use the car less often to work and 50% indicate that they use the car less often for social-recreational purposes. More than 30% of the Dutch say they have no alternative to the car to go to work. This group is hit extra hard by the high petrol prices. For 63%, public transport or (electric) bicycles are not an option because of the much longer travel time. 

In March of this year, Minister of Finance Kaag decided to lower the excise duty on petrol by 17 cents per liter of petrol until the end of December. The excise duty on diesel and LPG was also reduced. The ANWB believes that this reduction should be maintained. Purchasing power is, after all, under considerable pressure. In the Netherlands, more than 83 cents per liter of petrol is normally levied in excise duty. This makes the Netherlands a leader in Europe. The reduction in excise duty will not change that. 

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More than 1300 members took part in the membership poll. The ANWB believes that mobility should be safe, clean, efficient and inclusive – and therefore affordable – for everyone. Of all the travel kilometers we make in the Netherlands, 70% is done by car. It is expected that this will continue to be the case in the future. This calls for a sustainable form of car taxation. The ANWB, together with its partners, has a plan drawn up in which concrete recommendations are made. 

Photo below: ANWB image bank.

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