| Re: BBC News - Parasite HGV Drivers |
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Group: uk.transport · Group Profile
Author: JNugentJNugent Date: May 29, 2008 03:07
allan tracy wrote:
> Has everyone forgotten that there is a reason for fuel duty and that
> it's not strictly a tax - well certainly not where HGVs are concerned.
> You see the f**king roads don't come for free except that is unless
> you're an HGV driver because HGV taxation only covers 50%% of HGV
> infrastructure costs (DfT's own figures) in other words they're
> already subsidised.
> If they are given special dispensation from fuel duty has anyone
> considered the effect on their competitors the rail, maritime and
> aviation freight carriers who receive zero subsidies?
Do those industries pay £5.50 a gallon for their fuel too, then?
> As for most expensive fuel in Europe, well yes, but unlike most of
> Europe the UK’s trunk roads are all toll free – another conveniently
> forgotten fact.
"Most of the roads [I assume you mean motorways] in Europe" ARE free of
charge.
That certainly includes the motorways in Belgium, the Netherlands,
Luxembourg and Switzerland*, all of whom have much lower diesel prices
than does the UK. The price of diesel in Luxembourg and Switzerland is
particularly low (compared to the UK).
> At 27 million pound per mile motorways cost the f**king earth, and
> that's why petrol should also.
It does. And it pays for all UK road construction (such as it is) and
repair (such as it is) several times over every year.
[*Switzerland charges foreign-registered vehicles a nominal one-off
annual charge - in effect, a road tax disc fee - for a carnet allowing
unlimited access to their motorways for up to fourteen months. Access to
the ordinary road network (as long as the border crossing is not done on
a motorway) is free.]
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