'Pay As You Go' road tax. - Petition

[dave k]

well the road tax is for the maintenance of the roads, charge the people that wear them out. If I only use the car on the weekend and drive a few miles, why should I pay as much as someone that drives hundreds of miles a week. I am doing far less damage to the roads and putting out far less pollution.

Currently the UK motorists put in about 40billion a year into the treasury. Last year the government spent just over 4billion on the road network. I don't see the road charging being any different.

 

[gregorach]

Currently the UK motorists put in about 40billion a year into the treasury. Last year the government spent just over 4billion on the road network. I don't see the road charging being any different.

There are other, indirect costs of motoring - not just road maintenance. Patching people up after accidents, or ensuring the security of fuel supplies, for example...

 

[dave k]

There are other, indirect costs of motoring - not just road maintenance. Patching people up after accidents, or ensuring the security of fuel supplies, for example...

but I don't think this accounts for over 35billion every year? and this is not including duty on petrol I believe..

 

[gregorach]

but I don't think this accounts for over 35billion every year? and this is not including duty on petrol I believe..

It's very difficult to say with any certainty. I just wanted to point out that there are other externalities - even identifying them all is tricky, never mind costing them.

 

[AJB]

Calculated my possible max payment this morning for my daily commute (based on the estimated cost per mile for the busiest roads – M6 qualifies I think).

£1100 per week – shouldn’t be a problem