Scrap the Road Tax?

[Man Of Kent]

The RAC have carried out a survey on driver's attittudes towards the Road Tax.

Story here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3428793.stm).

Basically their results show that the majority think that it should be abolished and that fuel tax should increase, thus meaning that we operate a "pay-as-you-go" taxation system.

What do you think, and can you see any drawbacks of this suggested change...?

[budda]

I dont think this is a good idea, unless some sort of other checks are brought into place.

The way things stand at the moment at least once a year you have to have an insurance check and a valid MOT. Granted both of these can be forged but, well its something isnt it.

If we moved to completely fuel based taxation then surely the petrol station isnt going to ask to see the MOT cert once a year is it.

Plus, this is going to lead to us having very high fuel prices and could well give a market to smugglers, which is already happening in Northern Ireland.

I can see the benefit though because it would mean that big users of the roads, and big cars would pay more hopefully bankcrupting anyone with an SUV. But this would need to be tied in with maybe an insurance cert like a tax disk in the window of your car like they have in some other countries.

[Aladdin]

It seems on paper a fairer idea. I am surprised the motorists seem to 'willing' to pay taxation one way or the other and support higher tax on fuel to get rid of the road tax.

Still, £160 a year does not seem like a very high tax to pay. And the road tax itself takes into account the engine size. I pay £115 or thereabouts for my humble Polo, and a cool £15 for my scooter.

[Turtle]

The roads need as much investment as possible. And would any government in the near future be willing to risk a Fuel Strike like the one Blair when through?

[BlackArab]

One drawback I can think of is that it will be unfair on rural folk who rely on their cars far more than us urbanites and have longer journeys due to the lack of public transport.

[Captain Slog]

Originally posted by BlackArab
One drawback I can think of is that it will be unfair on rural folk who rely on their cars far more than us urbanites and have longer journeys due to the lack of public transport.
Not to mention truckers. How much tax would a truck doing 10mpg and travelling from London to Glasgow have to pay?

[Whowhere]

I think it should be the other way round, scrap the fuel duty and increase the road tax SLIGHTLY.
Imagine going to a pump and being greeted with signs advertising £2.00 a litre?

[Aladdin]

The level of taxation, be on the fuel or on the road tax, would have to stay as it is though. The crude reality is that there are too many cars on the road, and that at the present level of growth this country will be a gridlocked hell for car users within a decade. If we were to make things cheaper more people would certainly be encouraged to use the car for non-essential journeys and they would aggravate the problem.

[Turtle]

Originally posted by Aspartame
Trucks are heavier, and cause more damage to the roads.

What I do find funny, however, is the fact that my dad with biggish diesel car would pay (due to how economical his engine is) less tax per mile than his girlfriend with a medium sized petrol.

Unless, of course, they were to take this into account and put more duty on diesel.

Plus, a higher tax on trucks would force transporters to think of other means of transport - the rail system, for example, which would mean more money for the trains, and god knows they need it.

Diesel vs. petrol isn't that odd - diesel is ever so slightly better for the environment than petrol, plus it encourages the use of more economical engines. But diesel cars are still horrible, horrible things.

[budda]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if all the tax was put onto fuel but LPG was left un-taxed. I think even more people would covert.

[Kermit]

Originally posted by Captain Slog
Not to mention truckers. How much tax would a truck doing 10mpg and travelling from London to Glasgow have to pay?

Long-distance freight should travel by rail, and I would quite happily see the road freight industry ruined.

[Kermit]

Originally posted by Turtle
diesel is ever so slightly better for the environment than petrol

No it's not. A modern petrol engine with a good catalytic converter is much cleaner than a similar diesel, because of the particles diesels belch out.

If you don't believe me look at the shit that comes out of the back of buses...

[Captain Slog]

Originally posted by Kermit
Long-distance freight should travel by rail, and I would quite happily see the road freight industry ruined. Really? So would you be willing to pay for a railhead at every supermarket? And how would your new sofa be delivered to your house? Yes, bulk goods travelling long distances should go by rail, but trains can't go everywhere. Road haulage is still required to get stuff from the railhead to the shop/house and for local deliveries. And the costs of rail transport can't be justified for small items. If you only have a truckload of stuff, there's no point using a train.