Hi °C | Lo °C In broad terms, the Government takes around £50bn a year in tax from motorists.
Even enthusiasts for ‘green taxes' would admit that vehicle fuel is taxed more than five times the going rate for carbon — something that would cause a riot if it was extended to domestic gas and electricity bills.
Yet fuel duty is again due to rise by 2p/litre in September.
By April next year, the Government intends to have pushed through four fuel duty rises in roughly 18 months — on top of which we must pay extra VAT.
Around £8-9bn is spent on roads, and not always wisely — leaving many road surfaces dangerous to road users because of potholes and a lack of maintenance.
It is time for the Government to realise that more than 30 million of us have votes.
The Association of British Drivers is calling for the ‘fuel duty escalator' to be scrapped, and diverting more of the billions we've paid to make road surfaces safe for all road users.
Readers can find out more about our ‘Fair Deal for Motorists' campaign at www.fairdealabd.org.uk or by writing to me at PO Box 13199, London SW6 6ZU.
BRIAN GREGORY
Chairman, Association of British Drivers
