Road Pricing 'Inevitable'

Cobbydaler · 05-07-2010, 19:45

Says RAC Foundation...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10504764.stm

What do people think?

Would you be OK with paying per mile if VED was scrapped & fuel duty reduced?

**Chris** · 05-07-2010, 19:53

I think it's the silly season, when every man and his wife knows a half-decent press release will get them a few column inches and the free advertising that goes with it.

**Rob** · 05-07-2010, 19:55

If it is an additional tax, then absolutely no way.

If it is a replacement tax, then maybe. But it needs to be fair and not be a means of raising money by the backdoor. In otherwords average users should still see equality with the existing tax methods.

I wouldn't want it to be another big brother thing though. Who needs another device telling the government or indeed anyone where I've chosen to go and why? And yet unless something is tracking us how do they charge?

But how would foreign vehicles be taxed? At the moment many of them can fill up abroads, do their delivery and get back accross the ferry without contributing, yet if the aim in part is to reduce congestion then they need to be included too.

Taf · 05-07-2010, 19:59

Just put a few extra pence on fuel.... the more you drive, the more you pay, foreigners get done too, and if it replaces Road Fund Licence then dodgers can't get away with not paying...

But tax motorway journeys and a lot of A and B roads will be jammed constantly using more fuel and irritating locals.

simples!!

haydnwalker · 05-07-2010, 20:04

I would agree with scapping VED and adding money onto the price of fuel so then tax dodgers can't dodge anymore.

Also I think we should only allow trucks into the UK with only half a tank of fuel so they must fill up in the UK (and hence also contribute for using our roads).

martyh · 05-07-2010, 20:38

it's a non starter as far as i'm concerned ,as rob said without tracking devices there's no way to charge acurately

and can someone please explain how introducing a new road tax is going to ease congestion ,road fund license goes up every year as does the tax on fuel ,does this deter people from driving? no it does not, congestion has increased year in year out so changing the way we are taxed for using the roads won't make any difference imo

Taf · 05-07-2010, 20:47

I think it'll be dragged in at some point to get private roads built, or let private companies take over roads and their maintenence.

Chrysalis · 05-07-2010, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Says RAC Foundation...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10504764.stm

What do people think?

Would you be OK with paying per mile if VED was scrapped & fuel duty reduced?

I think it wont ease congestion significantly but raise a lot of money. People think twice about driving anyway due to the cost of petrol. But at the end of the day if you need to drive somewhere then you do it. The only ease I expect would be when people could car share will now car share.

Angua · 05-07-2010, 21:23

Wouldn't be so bad if they do what they do in the states. Charge a nominal fee per junction but once the road is paid for the tolls go.

chris9991 · 05-07-2010, 21:40

I guess they'll introduce road pricing as electric cars become more abundant due to the reduction in total revenue from petrol duty

Sirius · 05-07-2010, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Just put a few extra pence on fuel.... the more you drive, the more you pay, foreigners get done too
simples!!

How some of the lorry's from abroad have massive fuel tanks so they don't need to fill up here.

05-07-2010, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

How some of the lorry's from abroad have massive fuel tanks so they don't need to fill up here.

When I was in France, recently, I saw cars fitted with transponder units that charged local 'tolls' automatically depending on the distance driven, the road used & the time of day.

- The obvious downside is the 'privacy' debate currently extant re: number plate recognition cameras.

However, I wonder whether fitting a traceable 'black box' to vehicles coming from abroad, downloaded when they return 'home', might be feasible?

rogerdraig · 06-07-2010, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

How some of the lorry's from abroad have massive fuel tanks so they don't need to fill up here.

they can do what they used to do on the switerland boarder ( i think it was this one ) where they used to check how much was in the tank as they entered the country and it had to be just as full when it left so they have to buy fuel here

Pog66 · 06-07-2010, 12:08

Presumably also there would be major investment in improving public transport to go with it then........ maybe not

**Paul M** · 06-07-2010, 12:28

Improving it how ?

It dosnt matter if they put a bus stop on my road, outside the door, and another outside my workplace - I would still rather drive to work - I can set out when I want, not have to wait for a bus - and it will only take me 30 mins - not over an hour because we stop every few minutes to pick up (or drop off) people.

(FYI, in reality, the bus stop is actually about 15 minutes walk away from home, and will only drop me off about 1.5 miles from work. I would then have to catch another bus, which gets within about 10 minutes of my work place).