Paying to use the road?

Question

The government plans to charge us by the mile, on a sliding scale according to road classification. I have been figuring and this is expensive, I don't see how any ordinary person on an average income can afford this, all this is going to achieve is to further tax the average already heavily tax burdened person, and price them off the road. So what then? Cars generate a lot of money for the treasury between the obscene amounts of fuel tax they charge, road tax, even the VAT you pay on car parts. I'm a firm believer that cars are only a tiny percentage of the pollution problem, aircraft and industry, including car factories, produce far more pollution, what about the eastern countries such as China and India, they don't have anything like the type of environmental controls and legislature that we have, they are a big percentage contribution to global pollution. I think the government are going for the easy target to show everybody how green they are. What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree.

The whole climate change issue is simply a band wagon that the government is hoping the general (gullible) public will jump on, allowing them to raise taxes to prevent a global catastrophe!!

But have a look at this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/12/nclim12.xml&page=1

and specifically this bit...

"The UK accounts for just 2 per cent of global emissions, and falling. Even if Britain stopped using energy altogether, global temperature by 2035 would be six thousandths of a degree C less than if we carried on as usual. If we shut down once a week on Planet Day, make that less than one thousandth of a degree. Even if every Western country complied with Kyoto (and most won't), Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma says temperature a century from now would be a 25th of a degree lower than without Kyoto."

I don't know about you, but, given the figures mentioned above, it all seems a bit pointless.

As I said, it's all just an excuse to raise taxes.

Answer 2

This really has nothing (in truth) to do with pollution - but EVERYTHING to do with raising revnue. Just like "safety cameras" on a deserted stretch of dual carriageway with a 50mph sign just before the camera - and then back to "Nationals" straight after.

I know the road charging is being considered on a national level - but look at the London congestion charging as an example already in play.

Poor old Ken has a vison, he wants to raise a great deal of money - and be seen to have done something useful. He probably means well.

I really do not think it has ANYTHING to do with the country being greener - if that WAS the case, they wuold be hard-hitting industry, not shi||ing on the poor motorist again because he is a soft target with no real choices.

It is about money. it is ANOTHER tax that can be added, they can pretend it is to be greener - and the stupid people will be happy enough to go along with the idea.


** to Brandonjb

Yup, in the UK we pay that too, of the more obvious taxes we pay for our cars:

MASSIVE fuel duty - plus the VAT on the duty!!
Council tax - some is allocated to road upkeep
Tax on car insurance (plus Vat)
"Congestion charges"
Toll roads on some motorways
Car tax - used to be called road fun but as we have crap roads they dropped that particular lie

We have a corrupt govenment that spends BILLIONS on arming places like Israel - the revenue has to be raised somehow if we are to keep giving it away to buy weapons

Answer 3

The main answer is to divert traffic from the roads to mass transit, not new schemes to enrich private corporations by building and charging for private toll roads...

When government does not have the power or the will to stand up to huge multi-national polluting industries they come after the poor people.


PS: The people paid for the roads through tax money and the government now wants to charge us again! Hey, save some money by building less ammo for unjust wars or tax the multi-billion dollar corporations for a change

Answer 4

My take on this is, that we all have a responsibility to reduce our energy usage. The government needs to lead on this, and reducing car usage is a fair target, given that the majority of cars on the road at any one time are single occupant - hardly an efficient use of fuel (or road space). I agree, car drivers are heavily taxed. But many of us have a choice between using our cars and not using them. For those with that choice, I support any measures to get them out of their cars (and this includes myself). The problem I see is for those who have to drive, because of a lack of public transport in the local area, for example.

The government has a responsibility, if it wishes to get people out of their cars, to replace that mode of transport with another, because mobility is such a huge part of our lives.

Without wishing to turn this into a rant - we cannot expect the developing countries like China and India to toe the environmental line if the developed world, including us, do not do our utmost to reduce our own energy usage. It is the responsibility of each of us to cut down where we can - that includes car use.

Yes, car use is an easy target for the government, but it will also make a difference, which is all to the good. My only worry is that they are doing it to pay lip service to emissions reductions, and will not take the necessary leadership in other areas.

Answer 5

The biggest problems on the roads are the large delivery Lorries, they are a nightmare on our motorways, I think a charge should be made on them. We pay enough on Road Tax and Insurance for our private cars, I would like to know where exactly does the Road Tax go, it's never used on some of the roads that need repair. Polution comes from most of the Big Lorries and the roads are damaged by they're weight

Answer 6

It's madness.
Why spend all this money building bypasses, if they're going to cost more money to use. Everyone will start going through towns again.
And if the Government wants to go green, how much electricity will such a computer system use, tracking 30 million cars 24 hours a day!

Answer 7

This is all just an excust to squeeze more money out of lawful british citizens. When countries such as you mentioned are doing nothing about the global warming problem and are creating the most carbon monoxide what the hell difference is our tiny little nation going to make to the planet. Absolutely nothing! Government think the people of this country are too stupid to realise what they are doing - it is patronising and wrong!!! Grrrrr!

Answer 8

i agree. America were heavily involved with the KYOTO agreement when it was proposed but sharply pulled out when they discovered they may not be able to drive their V8s 1/4 mile down the road without paying the same concessions we have to already. Did you know that even the big trucks out there run on leaded petrol? God knows how much they pollute the atmosphere. also i doubt where the money is going, renewable energy sources? Boll0cks! is to fund some trips for our mare.

Answer 9

I think we will stand for anything in this country we are all a bunch of wimps. Cars generate BILLIONS of pounds a year as it is. (Anyone who runs a car will know what I am talking about) Why should have to pay yet more for the privilege to drive on our very overcrowded roads.Very good question though.

Answer 10

Do pedestrians crossing the line favor to pay highway tax? All pedestrians could ought to adhere to for pavement/highway tax & have a tax disc stapled to their forehead. I mean who the hell do those pedestrians imagine they're crossing the line. It beggars idea that they ought to experience they have the right to turn on a toucan or pelican crossing. they favor to favor & pray that Jeremy Clarkson isn't contained in the realm or they're going to be wearing a bonnet(hood in the journey that your American).