Tax fuel, not road (From Gazette Series)

Tax fuel, not road

I READ with interest the article in today's Gazette concerning the budget. Are we not missing the point here? Surely the object of vehicle taxation in to reduce the use of private cars.

I cannot see how a hike in the road fund licence fee is likely to have that effect. Indeed it seems to me that the higher the tax, the more people will feel inclined to use their cars instead of leaving them at home, thereby reducing the cost per mile of usage. A gas guzzling four by four sitting on the drive will cause far less environmental damage than an eco friendly car in constant use.

I believe the proper environmental approach would be to abolish road tax altogether and put it all on fuel, so that those who use their cars, pay. But of course, our Mr.Brown is far too clever for that, for if such a move did bring about a fall in vehicle use, it could seriously upset his forecasting and damage his much acclaimed "fiscal prudence". Brian Butcher, of Canonbury Street, Berkeley