Drivers distrust roadtax spend
Discussion
It's news, I've put it in the News section...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8165606.stm
Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.[/i]
My father is a local councillor and freely admits (off the record) that this is happening and is a necessity (and will get worse) - yet the government denies it...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8165606.stm
bbc said:
Drivers 'distrust' road tax spend
Motoring taxes have been handled so badly that drivers no longer trust what ministers say the charges pay for, an MPs' report says.
Inconsistency over justification for green taxes "tarnished their image", according to the transport committee.
Ministers should also abandon the link between unpopular congestion charge schemes and transport funding, it adds.
The government said billions had been spent on public transport and it was committed to improving travel options.
The cross-party committee concluded that road users remained "an important source of revenue" but needed to be treated "fairly and with openness".
Voluntary road pricing schemes - such as allowing drivers to pay charges related to distance, time or congestion instead of car tax or fuel duty - could be an option, its members suggested.
They said drivers needed "clearer signals" about how their taxes were being spent to reduce congestion and pollution.
The report said: "Fuel duty has been presented, at different times, as a tool to reduce carbon emissions, a source of general revenue, and a means to fund transport investment.
"We are concerned that motorists are mistrustful of the government regarding taxes."
Chairman Louise Ellman added: "The government handled a phased set of increases to Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) so badly they tarnished the image of environmental taxes."
Taxing drivers according to how much they use their cars remained the fairest method but the amount raised could be limited by the economic climate, she said.
Instead, the committee recommended the government develop other measures to address congestion.
'Unacceptable'
The committee said proposed city-centre congestion charge plans had proved "unacceptable" in many areas.
Manchester and Edinburgh have rejected congestion schemes in recent years while plans to further expand the scheme in London were dropped last year.
Ms Ellman said distribution of money from the government's Transport Innovation Fund should no longer be tied to such schemes.
But she believes individual drivers might be willing to pay road charges if they could offset them against road and fuel duties or get other incentives.
She said a scheme in Oregon, in the US, which linked charges to duty rebates and the offer of insurance and entertainment services, had proved successfull
Other suggestions the committee makes are for locally-funded transport improvements and tolls for foreign-registered lorries.
It also says car parking charges must be "proportional" and local authorities should not be charging excessive prices to pay for non-related services.
Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.
Similarly, it says penalty fines must not be used as a "blatant" tool to raise money from motorists and councils must spend more of the revenue raised on creating more parking spaces and improving signs.
The Department of Transport said it had no plans to change the Transport Innovation Fund but stressed councils would still continue to receive funding if they did not pursue congestion schemes.
As well as increased investment in buses, trains and cycle routes, it said widening roads, extending hard shoulders and improving junctions would help tackle congestion.
"We are committed to implementing innovative and far-reaching measures to improve the transport options available," it said.
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said drivers were given "no clear explanation" of what they got in return for around £45bn paid in taxes each year.
AA president Edmund King added that the public had lost trust in all political parties on motoring issues.
[i]It also says car parking charges must be "proportional" and local authorities should not be charging excessive prices to pay for non-related services.Motoring taxes have been handled so badly that drivers no longer trust what ministers say the charges pay for, an MPs' report says.
Inconsistency over justification for green taxes "tarnished their image", according to the transport committee.
Ministers should also abandon the link between unpopular congestion charge schemes and transport funding, it adds.
The government said billions had been spent on public transport and it was committed to improving travel options.
The cross-party committee concluded that road users remained "an important source of revenue" but needed to be treated "fairly and with openness".
Voluntary road pricing schemes - such as allowing drivers to pay charges related to distance, time or congestion instead of car tax or fuel duty - could be an option, its members suggested.
They said drivers needed "clearer signals" about how their taxes were being spent to reduce congestion and pollution.
The report said: "Fuel duty has been presented, at different times, as a tool to reduce carbon emissions, a source of general revenue, and a means to fund transport investment.
"We are concerned that motorists are mistrustful of the government regarding taxes."
Chairman Louise Ellman added: "The government handled a phased set of increases to Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) so badly they tarnished the image of environmental taxes."
Taxing drivers according to how much they use their cars remained the fairest method but the amount raised could be limited by the economic climate, she said.
Instead, the committee recommended the government develop other measures to address congestion.
'Unacceptable'
The committee said proposed city-centre congestion charge plans had proved "unacceptable" in many areas.
Manchester and Edinburgh have rejected congestion schemes in recent years while plans to further expand the scheme in London were dropped last year.
Ms Ellman said distribution of money from the government's Transport Innovation Fund should no longer be tied to such schemes.
But she believes individual drivers might be willing to pay road charges if they could offset them against road and fuel duties or get other incentives.
She said a scheme in Oregon, in the US, which linked charges to duty rebates and the offer of insurance and entertainment services, had proved successfull
Other suggestions the committee makes are for locally-funded transport improvements and tolls for foreign-registered lorries.
It also says car parking charges must be "proportional" and local authorities should not be charging excessive prices to pay for non-related services.
Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.
Similarly, it says penalty fines must not be used as a "blatant" tool to raise money from motorists and councils must spend more of the revenue raised on creating more parking spaces and improving signs.
The Department of Transport said it had no plans to change the Transport Innovation Fund but stressed councils would still continue to receive funding if they did not pursue congestion schemes.
As well as increased investment in buses, trains and cycle routes, it said widening roads, extending hard shoulders and improving junctions would help tackle congestion.
"We are committed to implementing innovative and far-reaching measures to improve the transport options available," it said.
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said drivers were given "no clear explanation" of what they got in return for around £45bn paid in taxes each year.
AA president Edmund King added that the public had lost trust in all political parties on motoring issues.
Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.[/i]
My father is a local councillor and freely admits (off the record) that this is happening and is a necessity (and will get worse) - yet the government denies it...
Can anyone fix my (correct?) formatting?
Edited by Puggit on Friday 24th July 07:41
I can quite believe it. Bristol City Council seem to be doing everything in their power to make car ownership and use onerous, to the point of creating congestion that will ultimately delay the buses they want to help
Puggit said:
It also says car parking charges must be "proportional" and local authorities should not be charging excessive prices to pay for non-related services.
Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.
My father is a local councillor and freely admits (off the record) that this is happening and is a necessity (and will get worse) - yet the government denies it...
It doesn't work over two lines (IYSWIM).Although it said it had no evidence this was happening, the public was concerned about the issue.
My father is a local councillor and freely admits (off the record) that this is happening and is a necessity (and will get worse) - yet the government denies it...
Can anyone fix my (correct?) formatting?
Daily Mash has put their own slant on it:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/road-ta...
I do wonder why it's taken so long to work this out though, you'd only need to speak to a handful of motorists to find out that we're all pissed off with effectively being used as a cash cow.
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/road-ta...
I do wonder why it's taken so long to work this out though, you'd only need to speak to a handful of motorists to find out that we're all pissed off with effectively being used as a cash cow.
Jasandjules said:
Just wait until they try and bring back pay per mile driving....
I think they are...Article said:
Voluntary road pricing schemes - such as allowing drivers to pay charges related to distance, time or congestion instead of car tax or fuel duty - could be an option, its members suggested.
Not going to work though is it. If it's voluntary, then the only people who take that option will be the ones for whom it is cheaper, which means those who do short journeys / travel on roads which are not congested anyway. The congested routes will cost more, so people will just stick to the existing duty, so no change, anywhere.Given that the point of road charging is to change behaviour, that strikes me as a bit of a fail.
Or it could be "voluntary" in the usual Labour sense of the word, such as "if you choose to drive your car to work" for example.
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