The Government plans to introduce a voluntary road charging scheme in the teeth of public opposition that's currently centred around the petition, which expires today, on the Prime Minister's Web site (see link below).
Details on the Government's plans to set up the scheme are emerging. The voluntary element would, according to the Observer newspaper, involve a reduction in motoring taxes in return for allowing satellite tracking systems to be installed in the car.
Others have accepted that it's a done deal too. According to the RAC Foundation, those who volunteer for the scheme would benefit in areas such as navigation, help with finding parking spaces, and pay-as-you go insurance.
Executive director Edmund King said: "If drivers have got a meter they'll think more about their actions, they'll cut out some journeys and they'll save themselves some money. There's nothing to lose starting with a voluntary scheme, but it would be political suicide for any government to impose it on people."
A warning was sounded by the Social Market Foundation, which calls itself "an independent think tank, exploring ideas that link the state and the market to create a more just, free and prosperous society". In spite of that, this organisation has just published a report which argues that "it is now time to move the debate forward from the why to the how by setting out a clear road map for the introduction of road user charging."
It argues that road pricing could fail unless charges are high enough to raise enough cash to improve public transport to the point where drivers feel they have a choice. It warns: "Expensive, inaccessible or unreliable public transport could leave the motorist with little choice to pay for essential trips, no matter the level of the charge."
So what do we reckon are the odds of a go-anywhere, affordable, acceptable, comfortable, clean, attractive public transport system emerging anytime soon?
Meanwhile, Tony Blair is to email everyone who signs up to the petition explaining why his Government plans to go ahead with the scheme whether the electorate wants it or not.
Welcome to 21st century Britain.
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