Stumble It!
Congestion charges could cost thousands for commuters
As more insight is gained into the
Eddington Review, which proposes a system or road charging for
England (similar charges are proposed in the National Transport
Strategy for Scotland), it is becoming clear that motoring in the
future could be very expensive. Unless you have the option to drive
out of peak times. There is an e-petition on the Downing Street
website.
The figures floated in the Eddington Review are £1.28 per mile for peak times. On that basis a 20-mile commute could cost the driver more than £1000 per month!
That might be no problem for the chairman of a multi-national. But as the highly respected social research charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation points out, motoring charges hit hardest at those on low incomes. What are they supposed to do?
What about the economies of our cities and towns. If there are hefty charges for driving into cities, will people not vote with their steering wheels and either go elsewhere or go home to do their business on the internet. Are our city and town centres destined to become derelict, with tumbleweed rolling past closed-down office and shops? That would seem the most likely outcome of an ill-considered mileage tax.
We are told, of course, that these charges might be accompanied by a reduction in fuel tax, or road tax. Hang on, I saw several pigs fly past my window! We know that is never likely to materialise.
On what basis are we supposed to accept such a draconian clamp down.
Congestion cannot be contained. Fair enough, we do have try to limit congestion and we can't go on building roads. But if we removed some of the bus lanes that constrict our roads and carried out some sensible road building and engineering things could be a whole lot better.
The environment.
Ah, yes, the taxman's trump card when trying to get more money out of road users pockets. But the environmental argument is not clear cut.
Trouble is, by that time the damage may be done. Our cities may have died and our freedom to travel the way we want to travel may be gone forever.
The figures floated in the Eddington Review are £1.28 per mile for peak times. On that basis a 20-mile commute could cost the driver more than £1000 per month!
That might be no problem for the chairman of a multi-national. But as the highly respected social research charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation points out, motoring charges hit hardest at those on low incomes. What are they supposed to do?
What about the economies of our cities and towns. If there are hefty charges for driving into cities, will people not vote with their steering wheels and either go elsewhere or go home to do their business on the internet. Are our city and town centres destined to become derelict, with tumbleweed rolling past closed-down office and shops? That would seem the most likely outcome of an ill-considered mileage tax.
We are told, of course, that these charges might be accompanied by a reduction in fuel tax, or road tax. Hang on, I saw several pigs fly past my window! We know that is never likely to materialise.
On what basis are we supposed to accept such a draconian clamp down.
Congestion cannot be contained. Fair enough, we do have try to limit congestion and we can't go on building roads. But if we removed some of the bus lanes that constrict our roads and carried out some sensible road building and engineering things could be a whole lot better.
The environment.
Ah, yes, the taxman's trump card when trying to get more money out of road users pockets. But the environmental argument is not clear cut.
- Trains can produce more emissions per person than a car. (Lancaster University study on the London to Edinburgh route showed that - even with every seat occupied - using reasonably economical cars would produce less pollution!)
- Public transport uses, on average, 60% more energy per passenger than cars. Buses also use more road space.
- Cars are getting more and more efficient and more and more clean. Emissions from road transport are falling and, with new fuels and future fuel cells, the zero emission car is a very real prospect.
Trouble is, by that time the damage may be done. Our cities may have died and our freedom to travel the way we want to travel may be gone forever.
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