One Pothole Every 120 Yards On UK Roads!

It is correctly known as the Vehicle Road Fund Licence hence the reason most of us think it is intended to be used for the upkeep of the roads the same now as it was when it was originally introduced.

Don’t know where that is listed – Direct.gov and the DVLA are calling it the Vehicle Excise Duty. Similar argument for tax on petrol – it’s not hypothecated. I believe (though stand to be corrected) that the only tax that goes entirely to pay for specific services is the TV licence.

Road tax isn’t hypothecated and isn’t a tax for roads (in the UK anyway)- it’s a vehicle tax. None of the tax we pay is ring fenced for any particular budget (except I think national insurance for the NHS). So it’s difficult to argue for all that money to be spent on road repairs!

It is correctly known as the Vehicle Road Fund Licence hence the reason most of us think it is intended to be used for the upkeep of the roads the same now as it was when it was originally introduced.

Ok so Vehicle Excise Duty isnt being spent on road repairs, so why isn’t the 85% of tax on petrol spent on the roads instead?

The government rips off the motorist cos it’s an easy way to collect tax.

I cannot remember a time when our country ‘A’ roads have been in such a state,sure there have always been some dodgy areas,but not anywhere as bad as now.
When did it stop being the ‘Road Fund Licence’ ??
Am i right in saying that the roads were better maintained under the ‘Highways Agency’ (or whatever it used to be called) but eventually control was passed to local authorities …and subsequent cuts in grants….ergo most non trunk routes are now cr@p

I can see your point. However, why should a tax levied onto vehicle users be used to subsidise a service such as the NHS, or education that non-vehicle users won’t contribute as much to, as they do not have to pay this tax – but still have use of these services. It is absurd!

Indeed! It’s just a creative way of spreading the tax burden around. To be fair the funding of services like that can be complex (and being involved in NHS funding the complexities are unbelievable). Unfortunately politics dictates that we won’t have simple tax systems as they are too controversial!

So why call it a road tax? Or Vehicle tax for that matter?

I pay road tax because I use a vehicle on a public road, I have every right to expect that money to be used to repair and improve the road infrastructure.

I pay National Insurance and Income Tax to cover things like the NHS, Education and the War on {insert country here}…:o

My mistake really – it’s not called road tax, it is vehicle excise duty. It’s a tax on the vehicle – not the road. To put it in context – I pay tax on beer but I don’t expect the government to put that towards providing breweries and pubs. Much as I would like them to, unfortunately it is not going to happen. It’s the same with any tax – it’s not hypothecated.

We need to have a goverment “Mutiny” get the wasters out!:):diablo::diablo:

So why call it a road tax? Or Vehicle tax for that matter?

I pay road tax because I use a vehicle on a public road, I have every right to expect that money to be used to repair and improve the road infrastructure.

I pay National Insurance and Income Tax to cover things like the NHS, Education and the War on {insert country here}…:o

Hear hear!

The worst thing is that the UK pay 43 BILLION a year in road tax but only 5 BILLION is spent on the roads, that is the government’s own statistics. Makes you wonder who pockets the other 38 Billion doesn’t it?

Road tax isn’t hypothecated and isn’t a tax for roads (in the UK anyway)- it’s a vehicle tax. None of the tax we pay is ring fenced for any particular budget (except I think national insurance for the NHS). So it’s difficult to argue for all that money to be spent on road repairs!

I will take some pictures and show you the Indian roads soon. :dev2:

If central govt gave local authorities enough money to repair the roads then they would be repaired it is as simple as that. Unfortunatley that does not happen because the majority of money given to local authorities is ‘ring fenced’ and has to be spent on education / social services / healthcare etc with road maintenance way down the list. Local authorities never get the money they need to cover everthing and have to raise their own funds (council tax) to cover any shortfall. Being a Conservative led county council you can imagine how much we get screwed by a labour govt. We have had our central govt grant reduced by £40 million over the past 5 years yet still have to provide the same level of service or better just to meet targets set by central govt – something has to give and the infrastructure maintenance is one of those areas that is first to suffer.

The worst thing is that the UK pay 43 BILLION a year in road tax but only 5 BILLION is spent on the roads, that is the government’s own statistics. Makes you wonder who pockets the other 38 Billion doesn’t it?

Expenses claims? 😀

Paul

The worst thing is that the UK pay 43 BILLION a year in road tax but only 5 BILLION is spent on the roads, that is the government’s own statistics. Makes you wonder who pockets the other 38 Billion doesn’t it?

Every 120 yards? there must be places around the country where there are uninterupted miles of perfect road then because in parts of Oxfordshire there are potholes what feels like every 12 feet. Around here there is no need for them to put up ‘caution temporary surface’ notices when they are doing road works as you can tell by the condition that it’s temporary – it’s too good to be permanent.

Yes I do, especially as we have to pick up the costs in punctures, damage to tyres, tracking, wheel rim damage, suspension damage…… the list goes on.

You need to understand the meaning of sarcasm, Spalds. I actually am aware these things cause damage. :rolleyes:

Anyway, which legend would that be? 😀

Paul

Don’t get me started on money spent on car repairs lately….:(

You think it’s bad for drivers?

Yes I do, especially as we have to pick up the costs in punctures, damage to tyres, tracking, wheel rim damage, suspension damage…… the list goes on.

Then again, my car must be bit like a brick house! After all some legend has sat in it on more than one occasion and its still working 😉

Adam

If you think it’s bad in the UK you should try the Carribean.

Over there it’s 1 yard of road for every 120 pot holes 😀

agendas

Hi folks; Same over here,potholes are now ‘speed reducers’
plus if you keep dropping wheels and shocks they’ll
get on to ‘smelly’ public transit.Cars bad.;)

You think it’s bad for drivers? Try sleeping on a tour bus on the way to the next gig on UK roads!

Anyway, of course the roads in the UK are crap. They are in the UK, after all. You didn’t expect them to be good did you?! 😀

Paul