| I don't know about you but wherever I drive in my | | | | Maybe they could do a postcode type system like |
| town, there is a plethora of road traffic police checking | | | | they do with the health authority because I defy |
| up on car tax. | | | | anybody to get away with car tax evasion in my area |
| Despite this, one in twenty vehicles on the road is still | | | | and it seems unfair that we end up paying for those in |
| untaxed and undetected. I can be quite sure if I ever | | | | different areas where car tax evasion is more prolific. |
| tried to get away with car tax, even for a day, they'd | | | | The law abiding drivers are caught out once again |
| find me! To cover this shortfall in revenue, costs of 214 | | | | when they're number plates are cloned. When the |
| pounds million were put on the law abiding car driver | | | | number plate is picked up by a police camera it looks |
| last year. | | | | like they have car tax when that particular vehicle |
| It has been found through studies that when a car is | | | | doesn't. This puts more dangerous vehicles on the |
| untaxed continually, the driver is also unlikely to worry | | | | road, causing more accidents and once again pushing |
| whether or not his car is in roadworthy condition. This | | | | up our car insurance premiums. |
| puts us all at risk, thus pushing up car insurance | | | | Essex County Council recently sold a number plate at |
| premiums too, to cover the problems these drivers | | | | an auction that had been registered to them since |
| bring. | | | | 1904. The number plate reads 'F1' and cost the buyer |
| The Public Accounts Committee say the whole road | | | | 375,000. pounds This beats the previous record of |
| tax system is becoming a laughing stock and they | | | | most expensive number plate which was set at |
| don't really have any idea just how huge the problem | | | | 331,000 pounds and just said M1. The proceeds from |
| is. They do know, however, that tax evasion rose to | | | | this sale are being put towards a safe driving scheme |
| 5% during 2006. | | | | for young motorists, a very worthwhile cause. |
| Motorcyclists are pushing their luck even more with | | | | If young motorists are being taught safe driving tactics |
| between 30 and 38% avoiding the payment. This | | | | maybe this will help reduce extortionate car insurance |
| seems silly when road tax for motorbikes is so minimal. | | | | premiums for them so they're poor parents do not |
| For the small amount they would have to pay in | | | | have to keep digging deep in our pockets to put the |
| vehicle excise duty, it tops up the road tax and car | | | | little darlings on our own car insurance. |
| insurance premiums for the rest of us, putting more | | | | While car tax is a standard price that we all have to |
| pressure on those who are trying to stay within the | | | | pay, car insurance premiums for young people having |
| law. | | | | just passed their test is exorbitant. With many having |
| Funds from the road tax of the 35 million cars on the | | | | to pay over 2000 pounds a year for car insurance, |
| road raises around 5 pounds billion per year. The aim | | | | surely it is only the children of the well off that can |
| of the DVLA was to cut car tax evasion by 70 | | | | afford to keep a car on the road? Most young drivers |
| pounds million a year by the end of 2008 but this | | | | of families with an average income will be put on their |
| obviously is not going to happen. These seem like | | | | parents car insurance policies as an additional driver, |
| colossal figures and it makes you wonder what we | | | | bumping up their own premiums although not to the |
| get for our money when you look at the state of | | | | tune of 2000. |
| some roads. | | | | |