Congestion charge needs reviewing

[Mr Gear]

Interesting article here regarding congestion charge: http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php...

I agree with most of it, but I still can't get over the fact that it's supposed to be a congestion charge, not a CO2 charge.

Also, the argument falls down that they should change it again because lots of people will have bought vehicles specifically to make themselves exempt! The charge is a farce! This coming from someone who has never had to pay it.

[SEN 18]

Mr Gear said:

Interesting article here regarding congestion charge: http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php...

I agree with most of it, but I still can't get over the fact that it's supposed to be a congestion charge, not a CO2 charge.

Also, the argument falls down that they should change it again because lots of people will have bought vehicles specifically to make themselves exempt! The charge is a farce! This coming from someone who has never had to pay it.

Look the Government are scratching their heads trying to find ways of screwing the public to raise revenue to pay the national debt off which is going to another 10 years at least, oh and not to mension their expenses which must be almost as much as the National dept as well.

Edited by SEN 18 on Wednesday 22 July 22:23

[peter pan]

It seems they just cannot leave motorists alone!
The shower have sneaked in some new legislation. If you are involved in an incident, which results in you receiving severe injuries, through violent criminal action, the amount of state compensation you will receive will be slashed by up to 25% IF ......wait for it! you have been convicted for exceeding a speed limit at some point in the past! FFS. what has been caught for exceeding a speed limit at some time in then past, got to do with being seriously injured when being mugged by a violent criminal? Is there no depth that the filth we call a government will stoop to have a go at people whose crime is driving a motor vehicle?

[sleep envy]

the first sentence is a load of guff

it's not a success

[Mr Gear]

sleep envy said:

the first sentence is a load of guff

it's not a success

Ha, it's a success in that it has lined a few pockets of a few individuals! It's NOT a success in solving congestion though!

I like to think the article hails it a success because the government got away with it. They succeeded in pushing it through. There was no mass protest, no civil disobedience. The motorists sucked it up and paid out. Success.

I don't drive into central London. Never have done, never will do (during congestion charging hours) but I've seen the way it has pushed traffic onto the South Circular and balled that up even worse, which is why I am against it. And I'm against the principal of it, and I'm against the way it is being manipulated.

[sleep envy]

I'm against the way they set the business model up (if everyone pays it fails and Capita lose a significant amount of cash) and they way they hail the reduction in emisions as a direct cause of the CC (nothing to do with people using more efficient and cleaner vehicles plus the greater use of motorbikes/scooters/cycles due to public transport being a load of ste)


I've driven in every now and again due to business, can't say I've noticed the reduction in traffic whatsoever

[109 Bob]

sleep envy said:

I've driven in every now and again due to business, can't say I've noticed the reduction in traffic whatsoever

To be honest there was a noticeable reduction for a while when it started & for a while afterwards but it didn't last long, because I think that most people don't have a realistic choice of how to travel in & out of town. The car is a necessity & most people, I'm sure, don't make the journey for enjoyment.

[sleep envy]

I think you and I have had this conversation before

[109 Bob]

sleep envy said:

I think you and I have had this conversation before

Very possibly

[moparmick]

If they are serious about reducing congestion, then maybe they should stop designing transports systems that are more like obstacle courses.

[Aowhs102]

I am fairly split on the subject. Whilst i object to paying £200 a year to drive out of my own road (live inside the scheme) there is a lot less traffic genrally in my part of town. That said, once you move outside the zone traffic is just aweful. It has got to be worse then a few years ago.

The most frustraiting part is i only use my car to get out of london!

eta 300 posts!

Edited by Aowhs102 on Wednesday 5th August 09:13

[crackingtrousers]

I live inside the zone, and it did make a huge difference. Before it came in getting a bus was a waste of time and getting a cab was strictly for mugs only.

The only reason central london comes to a standstill now is because of the ridiculous unregulated digging up of roads. No thought seems to be given that digging up two main roads adjacent to each other at the same time probably isn't the brightest of ideas.