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London Transport (uk.transport.london) Discussion of all forms of transport in London. |
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The effects of a road congestion tax
Mark wrote:
"Frank X" wrote in message ... Surely you can see the benefit of taxing the rush hour traffic more? Why, when it won't do anything to reduce the congestion that the government has deliberately created with bus lanes, retimed traffic lights, etc? Particualarly if it makes the traffic move more freely. Why would it, when the government won't spend money to improve roads, but do spend money to make them worse? Congestion has increased massively in the last ten years, while traffic has increased little... it's not our fault, and 'congestion charges' are just another excuse to levy another tax on us. Actually traffic increased by 15.1% from 1991 to 2001, from 411.6 - 473.7 bn vehicle kilometres (figure for all vehicles, source: DfT). Unfortunately comparative congestion figures are harder to find. On the other hand, the number of journeys made has not increased particularly; it's just that journeys are becoming longer and a number of journeys previously performed by foot or cycle have been transferred to the car, resulting in the increase in vehicle km. I mean is it fairer to tax someone extra for working hard and contributing to the economy No. So why do you want to tax tax-slaves who are merely trying to get to work to pay our huge tax bills? It always amazes me how the public are willing to stomach taxes like income tax and NI, but go mental at the things they actually have to pay like Poll Tax, Fuel Tax and Congestion charging. We don't stomach them: but, as the government is aware, there's a big difference between them stealing money from you through your employer, and stealing money from you directly in this way. I never see the income tax money in my bank account, so it's less directly annoying than having to physically pay them money... and money that's already been taxed at 40%, at that. Theoretically it would make more sense to tax based on what resources need to be limited, rather than you working harder and contributing more to the economy. I think that's what Frank was saying. 'Tax and spend' is all that Labour know how to do, and they'll use any excuse to do that. The people who believe that taxing motorists will actually reduce congestion are merely their 'useful idiots'. Mark Taxing motorists in the right way would make things fairer. Usage-based taxation is a step in the right direction; environmental tax reform would probably be the right direction. (See http://www.green-innovations.asn.au/ecotax.htm) Such a system could naturally resolve congestion and restore some sense of balance in the transport system. -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 |
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