Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Given that the government is investigating this GPS-based pay-by-the-mile charging for using the roads, can anyone explain why they don't simply do the following:-

1. Remove road tax.
2. Calculate, based on last years total fuel sales, the amount they need to increase the fuel duty by to cover the difference.

This would have a number of benefits:-
1. Zero net impact to the treasury initially.
2. Those buying uneconomical cars pay more - hence incentive on more economical cars.
3. Incentive on individuals to reduce their road-use, as they're paying more per mile.
4. Reduced miles driven = better for environment, and less wear-and-tear on the roads - hence any reduction in fuel duty revenue would be accompanied by less use of the roads, and hence less road maintenance.
5. Visitors to the Uk would contribute to the cost of the roads they use, as they'd be buying fuel in the UK - this would be even more appropriate for hauliers delivering to the UK.
6. Low-usage families would significantly benefit.

Thoughts? What are the negatives to this approach, and why aren't government looking at it?

jtaylor wrote:Given that the government is investigating this GPS-based pay-by-the-mile charging for using the roads, can anyone explain why they don't simply do the following:-


Thoughts? What are the negatives to this approach, and why aren't government looking at it?

Because it`s too easy????

You beat me to it Janet!!

Great minds........

Apparently, this was thought about several years ago, but some bright Government whizz kid worked out that thousannds of people would be put out of work.

No change there, then !

If anyone has a Sat Nav they might find this aswell?

The problem you have with GPS is that it takes a while to boot up and find a signal, also its rubbish inside tunnels.

How they would get a accurate reading i do not know, surely as well, if you knew abit about electronics and cars you could just un attach it?

jtaylor wrote:Given that the government is investigating this GPS-based pay-by-the-mile charging for using the roads, can anyone explain why they don't simply do the following:-

1. Remove road tax.
2. Calculate, based on last years total fuel sales, the amount they need to increase the fuel duty by to cover the difference.

This would have a number of benefits:-
1. Zero net impact to the treasury initially.
2. Those buying uneconomical cars pay more - hence incentive on more economical cars.
3. Incentive on individuals to reduce their road-use, as they're paying more per mile.
4. Reduced miles driven = better for environment, and less wear-and-tear on the roads - hence any reduction in fuel duty revenue would be accompanied by less use of the roads, and hence less road maintenance.
5. Visitors to the Uk would contribute to the cost of the roads they use, as they'd be buying fuel in the UK - this would be even more appropriate for hauliers delivering to the UK.
6. Low-usage families would significantly benefit.

Thoughts? What are the negatives to this approach, and why aren't government looking at it?

Sounds good at first reading. Two points which occur to me though:

1. The road tax / road fund whilst being a pain does at least go some way to ensuring road worthiness in that insurance certificates and MOTs need to be produced to get it.

I accept that the system is not foolproof and that many people evade it but in my view that is an enforcement issue rather than a systems issue.

2. Public Transport is woefully inadequate, ceasing absurdly early or being virtually non-existent particularly in rural areas. Those rural residents may have a genuine need for 4x4s and other similar gas guzzlers.

Road pricing is wrong. The mug motorist already forks out far more than is reinvested in the roads. This is all about Government surveillance of people's movements and thus is also a civil liberties issue in my view. There is also an agenda to harmonise us with our masters, sorry partners, in the EU as they are embracing the Galilleo(?spelling) satellite.

Rant over!

............and on this subject, yesterday I was travelling out of London with No 2. son-in-law.

As we left Brixton, travelling south we encountered a road block with some ten police officers, and a car transporter. Ever car was being stopped, and those not displaying a current tax-disc were ushered to one side.

If relevant paperwork could not be produced ON THE SPOT, the vehicle would be impounded, loaded on the transporter. I understand there would be limited time to correct the situation, or the vehicle would then be crushed !

Seems the Met police are taking the 'no-tax' situation very seriously.

J.R. wrote:Seems the Met police are taking the 'no-tax' situation very seriously.

It was a different force which ensured that an old man got a prison sentence for driving at 38 in a 30 mph limit but they take no measures to catch murderers who have been openly allowed to walk out of jail before serving their sentence.

A few years ago I wrote a letter to the local newspaper mentioning the local police. It wasn't published - the newspaper sent a senior copper in uniform, pips and all, round who forced his way in and gave my wife hell because I had written what was an absolutely true, complete and unbiased set of facts pointing out that the newspaper story was incorrect according to the local police force. I was in Brazil at the time - she was alone - and he didn't have the guts to contact me when I came back.

A little before that we had a weapons shop close to us and I saw weapons being removed late at night by people I didn't recognise thropugh the back door. I rang the police who simply didn't bother to come and check let alone ring me back!

and they expect us to trust the police............
Sorry - that would be against their human rights to be trusted.

I'd LOVE to see more number-plate-recognition cameras on the road - maybe built-in to the speed cameras??

Those without insurance/tax etc. could be spotted regularly driving past specific locations, and then road-traps setup in hot-spots where a large number of people will be caught on that day??

Start hitting those people who are costing the rest of us, through no insurance, no tax etc. etc.
I'd rather see that on rural roads than all the pointless speed cameras with stupidly crazy low speeds (I completely support 30/20 mpg by schools and clear blackspots etc)

Also, why not more of these "smiley face" cameras, which show your speed with a happy or sad face?? They always remind me to slow down if I've accidentally drifted over the limit.....More effective than blo*dy speed cameras...
J

peter2095 wrote:If anyone has a Sat Nav they might find this aswell?

The problem you have with GPS is that it takes a while to boot up and find a signal, also its rubbish inside tunnels.

Do you really need a GPS in a tunnel, seeing as how you don't usually have any option but to keep going until you exit?

A lot of people ask us for the postcode of a property they are going to view and then about 10 minutes before the appointment time time ring in a panic because they have been sent in a completely wrong direction, or are at the wrong end of a one way system.

icomefromalanddownunder wrote:

peter2095 wrote:If anyone has a Sat Nav they might find this aswell?

The problem you have with GPS is that it takes a while to boot up and find a signal, also its rubbish inside tunnels.

Do you really need a GPS in a tunnel, seeing as how you don't usually have any option but to keep going until you exit?

There are a couple of places in london, when i was co traveling at work, that you come out of a tunnel and the turning is very quick, problem is that the GPS system takes a while to find signals again.

This also means that them not working in tunnels, you won't get charged!!

It's going to be painful for all motorists - bearing in mind that the Bank of England base rate has just gone up again - everything is going to be effected, and anyone with savings will have to pull them out to pay for the new fuel and food costs!

For someone like me who does a woefully small number of miles normally having to go to Leeds to transport undergrad daughter suddenly bumps my mileage from under 7k per year to nearly 9! (Estimates at current time) that is going to cost me a Massive amount!

I have already filled in the forms signed the petitions, daughter is going to try the train again.... Hmmm Ask EA about Stonehouse and trains!!!