Driving takes it toll at the best of times, traffic jams, red lights that blind, pollution, frustration et al. Add to that the Toll. Indeed the bells Toll for everyone, none more so than France from where I’ve just returned. The problem is that the Government don’t own the roads , built by the people for the people but owned by Corporations. The annual take from Tolls is circa 10 billion euros. The tedious booths appear everywhere and its all very irritating.
In Britain we don’t have Toll Roads but as irritating we have road tax which the Government take because they own the roads and that delivers around £7billion per annum. Then in both nations the Governments take circa two thirds of the fuel price and so these roads become cash cows. Add to that parking fines, speeding fines, traffic fines etc , driving is taking its toll.
Now as we go electric ( is this really happening) how do the Authorities take their Toll. Max trip on one charge 300 miles so long as you don’t turn on the radio or wind down the windows. Will the Government tax electric charging or will there be a tax on usage. How will it all work ?
Add to that the eco consequence as we abandon fossil fuel like extinct dinosaurs as we need to create more electricity to charge batteries and mine Bitcoin. How’s that energy created ? Could one of those Extinction Rebellion people answer that or will they remain stuck to the Motorways. Are we really going to abandon all that’s been built. Has anyone thought this all through or was Covid lockdown a dress rehearsal for not going anywhere in future. The UK Government lost £7 billion in tax revenues because of lower car usage last year alone.
The blogger is very confused and has had much to ponder this last week. Are we about to lose our mobility freedoms, are we all heading to public transport. Our Governments seem to be driverless at present , leadership has taken a back seat and looking in the rear view mirror all I see is the 1970s with inflation, fuel shortages and three day weeks. The road ahead looks difficult but navigate we will as we always do but Tolls and Taxes will inevitably rise as the World accommodates the new era. It took one decade to transform from horse and cart to motor car but I think it’s going to take at least three decades to adjust to whatever is coming down the road. I can’t see it and I wonder who can.
Whatever , Driving is about to take its Toll. There are 1.42billion cars in the world today and 6 billion more who want one. That’s something to ponder, but it will never happen but something else will.
qbitblogger 