Really worried about the possibility of “pay per mile”

[Yorkiepud2614]

I’ve been seeing more and more about this new proposal “pay per mile” that would replace car duty (I think). Which the average household bill somewhere around £450 - £600. Lots of reports that it may come in this October.
Living in the Highlands this would completely cripple us. Do people really think the new government will bring this change in?

Weird. I crossed Tower Bridge just last week and didn't have to pay a penny.

Presumably the cost will be set to bring in similar amounts to fuel duty. I can't really see why anyone would be panicking about it. It won't cost more.

You use petrol and diesel in accordance with the mileage you do (and if you sit in a traffic jam you use up more fuel, that doesn't happen with electric cars so actually you may well end up paying significantly less).

I agree people should pay for what they use - and if it means more people use public transport or cycle (or walk) that can only be a good thing. People who can walk and cycle, should do, to help free up the roads for those who can't.

I think you should pay more for less miles
Barring disability there should be a tax on travelling less than 5miles as this can be walked/cycled whereas 30 miles can't

I am not sure how they track and enforce this though.

Yes but it's not going to happen in October is it

Where on earth are you getting the idea from that there will be tolls on the bridges (other than the existing ones on the Dartford crossing).

People really will believe any old nonsense.

The furore over ULEZ was over the top as well, given it only affects the most polluting older cars.

I agree.

Although this is yet another area where women would be disadvantaged. I am sure there are women who would more than happy to walk or cycle, but won't because they don't feel safe. Especially night-time journeys.

And you can't really just charge men the extra!

Why? They have to pay for their fuel anyway.

They don't "ALL" need to have cameras do they? Just one camera between each motorway junction will get any vehicle on that stretch. Or cameras on entry/exit sliproads to monitor when cars join and leave the motorway.

I was responding to @TequilaNights who was suggesting, I think, that once the Silvertown tunnel opens and there are tolls for that and the Blackwall and Rotherhithe tunnels that there'd be no free way to cross the river from SE London. That's not true as Tower Bridge is outside the congestion charging zone and toll-free.

Well not necessarily.

Some journeys are not reasonably safe and it may also be blowing a gale/ be icy etc.

It can't be comparable as there's no national network of cameras. There'll be winners and losers as it will only be in force in limited locations, ie busy motorways and city centres. So drivers who drive in the busiest locations will be disproportionally impacted. They'll pay more and drivers in rural areas without cameras will pay less.

There are lots of cities that could have congestion charges. A good example for me is York. It has good buses, is (largely) flat so cycle-friendly, and has good park and ride facilities. Nobody needs to take their car right into the centre and if they want to because they are collecting something from a shop for example, they can pay a charge. It's not unreasonable.

Why would you use cameras? You'd just charge based on the recorded mileage of the car. For example, my car has done about 3000 miles in the last year, so I'd pay a charge based on that.

And you can’t imagine a way that that could be circumnavigated ?

I live in the capital of the UK, London.

Rural, country lane no pavements or street lights, nearest shop 3 miles, nearest station 5 miles, buses run every 2-3 hours, stop at 6pm and do not run on a Sunday. I live in a city and I am faced with those problems

You mean clocking the car? Not sure it's possible with modern ones.

I knew people who used to do it back in the day, it used to make a terrible noise so everyone knew you were doing it.

Tell me you live in a big city without telling me you live in a big city!

In our village (not small, it has 6,000 inhabitants), we have virtually nothing within walking distance. All the shops have closed, the bus route was taken away in 2005, the library was closed, the primary school has closed, the pharmacy has closed, and whilst we still have a satellite GP surgery, it's impossible to get an appointment there - for the last few years, OH and I have kept asking for our village surgery, but told the only appointments are in the next town which is a drive away (remember no buses!).

Some people really havn't a clue about life outside the major cities.

There will be a way. There just hasn’t needed to have been a way in recent times.

No...I never said it would. Have a look at the full quote thread.

But if you live rurally you are already paying for petrol/diesel.

I don't get the angst.

ULEZ, It effected cars from 2015 so not the oldest cars.

Yet I can still drive a V8 5 litre car from 2001 make it make sense

There will be still tax on petrol and diesel this is just another stealth tax.

Well, other than to maximise the value of a car if you want to sell it.

Obviously people break the law, they don't get a car MOTd and if they do go to garages that will pass the car but I still think it's the easiest and fairest way to do it.

Anyway it won't come in until most cars are electric.

I've driven through France into Italy and back this year. Many people do....how can that be managed.

I scrapped a 2002 car that was ULEZ compliant.