22nd February 2007, 08:24 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by 1man1deskActually, the government's favoured method of road pricing is based on mileage. You pay per mile travelled. With fuel tax you also pay per mile travelled. Ergo the two are functionally the same. The only difference is that road pricing permits the authorities to vary the tax according to which road you use and theoretically when you use it.
You won't be surprised to hear that I disagree with you on the quote above. Road pricing effectively penalises us for how much you use the roads, and can be targeted at particularly congested areas. Fuel tax penalises those who choose big gas guzzlers as distinct from those who choose more efficient cars. Both things should in principle affect overall fuel consumption and therefore air pollution, but only the road pricing will directly address congestion. The two things therefore complement each other.
Road pricing could be targeted at congested areas. However, the government is considering introducing it as a national thing. Therefore it will also affect roads that are not congested albeit on a lower price band. I might agree with it if it were focussed on cities only and did not involve fitting tracking devices to cars, but as it stands I must vehemently oppose it and its proponents.
Another thought that occurs is; how much will road pricing increase the cost of our food and shop-bought goods? You don't think that the retailers will absorb the costs themselves, do you? If lorries get charged per mile travelled to deliver stuff, we are going to have to pick up the tab. If they are subsidised we are still picking up the tab. If they get cheaper rates then the road pricing is really not being aimed at reducing congestion at all, since it is the lorries that are blamed for much of the congestion on the main roads.
One other alternative idea that I do like is banning caravans. They slow everybody down and are an infernal irritation. That would reduce some of the congestion.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Antique
"A great victory for rangers and hamsters everywhere. Right, Boo?" - Minsc