Crisis plan for tolls on all (British) roads

[Newsjock]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1258751,00.html

Juliette Jowit, transport editor
Sunday July 11, 2004
The Observer

The biggest shake-up in the history of British motoring is to be outlined in a government-funded study that proposes a national toll scheme to charge drivers up to 90p a kilometre (£1.45 a mile) for using the nation's roads.

The Observer has obtained a draft copy of the year-long investigation into the feasibility of road-user charging, which reveals that the revolutionary new scheme could slash congestion in half, saving Britain from a devastating transport crisis.

... The scheme, which would involve fitting Britain's 30 million cars with electronic chips linked to satellite and charging for every kilometre travelled, could raise more than £10 billion a year for the Treasury and boost the economy by another £12bn through better transport links.

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On edit: As I think about the ramifications of such a plan, I think of how this is the perfect tool to "pacify" a reluctant American population -- essentially take away freedom of movement for all but the wealthiest Americans. And if Poodle Tony is thinking about it, you can bet your bottom petrodollar that Chimpy is thinking about it, too.

[Khephra]

1. Isn't it interesting that the US Congress is looking into

toll roads too. It's a different scheme, but they're also looking into similar ideas too.

Curious timing, is it not?

[KareBear]

2. Get ready for the black market chips :D

Also, I would think MORE oil usage would mean MORE money for Chimpy and his gang. So they would want us to move about the country freely. Its not like there is a huge difference between one city and the next here in the states. They control the media everywhere, why would they need to physically stop us from moving about within their sphere of influence

[salib]

3. Just one more regressive tax, at least as bad as the head tax.

[Massacure]

4. No way in hell I would pay two bucks a mile.

[Trillo]

5. If something like this was to be implemented in the U.S.,

I wonder what the rationalization would be for the double and triple taxation. First, taxpayers paid for the roads to be built. Then, gasoline taxes are added to fund road repairs, and ignoring the differences in vehicle MPG, that correlates to distance travelled on roads. Third, charge for direct use of road? Implement tracking systems to know where every registered vehicle is at every moment?

It seems to me that the U.S. citizens already own the roads, imposing something like a use tax on them, besides being regressive, is saying you must pay to use what you already own. In other words, we have confiscated the citizens' previous ownership.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Time to invest in bicycles.

[demoman123]

7. Oh, no.

One of the best things about driving in Britain is the free motorways. I thought that was some kind of principle with the British people. Guess not.