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Written by Tim Worstall
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Thursday, 09 August 2007 |
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has decided that drivers of
"gas-guzzling" cars will have to pay a daily congestion charge of £25
per day. Meanwhile drivers of lower emitting cars will pay no
congestion charge at all.
Needless to say the increased charge is justified on the grounds of
global warming – isn't every half-baked government scheme these days?
But in reality this has far more to do with social envy and raising
revenue than it does with helping the environment or reducing
congestion.
Cars are already taxed twice according to how much they pollute: once
by the tax on petrol, and again by a separate tax on the cars
themselves. These taxes more than cover the cost of the environmental
damage that the vehicles cause. Further 'green taxes' are unnecessary.
In any case, surely one small car coming into the city for free and
driving around all day (as they will now have a clear incentive to do)
will cause more emissions than a larger vehicle used for the
school-run, or a quick trip to the shops?
From the congestion perspective, the stupidity of this idea is just as
apparent. As AA spokesman Paul Watters told the newspapers, families
would find it much cheaper to bring two small cars into the city than
one larger one. Indeed, you could drive an army of small cars into the
city, gridlock all the roads, pump out emissions all day long, and
still not have to pay a penny.
Proper road-pricing (which actually prices roads and charges people for
using them) remains the best way to reduce congestion. Sadly, idiotic
schemes like Mr Livingstone's are making the idea a very tough sell.
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