The Majority of Adults don't exercise enough apparently

[marinyork]

Speeding Tickets are not classicly regarded as taxes for the simple reason of criminal behaviour. Anyway P&L is that way --->

 

[numbnuts]

The Majority of Adults don't exercise enough apparently

I blame all those bloody cyclist, they join a forum and then sit on their backside in front of a computer

 

[ComedyPilot]

The govt could average speed camera the whole road network for all I care. There are signs telling us the limit, if we ignore them we pay a fine, if we don't see them then we ought to pay more attention?

In 25 years of driving I have never had a speeding ticket.

 

[shunter]

The govt could average speed camera the whole road network for all I care. There are signs telling us the limit, if we ignore them we pay a fine, if we don't see them then we ought to pay more attention?

In 25 years of driving I have never had a speeding ticket.

Are you saying you have never been caught or that you have never gone over the speed limit?

 

[shunter]

And what percentage of government revenues does that equate to? You may illustrate that by comparison with fuel duty if you wish, I'm sure you've got the figures to hand...

Don't know.

I don't have the figures to hand and the first bit sounds too difficult.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Are you saying you have never been caught or that you have never gone over the speed limit?

I have never been 'caught' (don't speed anymore, and only did it back then on quiet rural roads), but would not consider any penalty received as a tax. It would be a fine, and I would accept it as that.

 

[Downward]

As per my response to shunter: your argument would carry rather more weight if it had some figures attached to it...

35 Million Vehicles
£200 year Tax average each Vehicle
£500 VAT/Fuel Duty per Vehicle
£10 Insurance

Easily a Minimum of £2.5 Billion per year.

 

[jonesy]

35 Million Vehicles
£200 year Tax average each Vehicle
£500 VAT/Fuel Duty per Vehicle
£10 Insurance

Easily a Minimum of £2.5 Billion per year.

Indeed, we can easily get the exact figure, which is significantly greater than that, but I'd certainly agree that fuel and vehicle taxes raise a great deal of money for the government. And this does affect transport decision making, but you need to know a bit about transport appraisal to know how.

But you didn't mention speeding fines did you? By comparison, they scarcely count do they? If they really were for raising revenue they'd be a pretty useless way of doing it- difficult and expensive to collect, constant complaints in the right wing press etc etc. but then they aren't taxes are they, as well you know.

edit: here's chart of tax revenue. Spot the speeding fines...

 

[jonesy]

Don't know.

I don't have the figures to hand and the first bit sounds too difficult.

Don't worry, I've already got them for you.

Now, are you still going to maintain that speeding fines are a significant contribution to government revenues?

 

[Downward]

So not £2.5 Bill More like £25 Billion
£6.1 on VED
No wonder they won't scrap it

 

[marinyork]

I didn't realise insurance was taxed. The pot of money for victims should be much more generous than it is in that case.

 

[shunter]

Don't worry, I've already got them for you.

Now, are you still going to maintain that speeding fines are a significant contribution to government revenues?

I never said they were a significant contribution just a contribution. I'm sure the government would be grateful for any money they can fleece of the public. Inheritance tax - another double tax on those who look after their money.

 

[palinurus]

The insurance man came round the other day. New guy, they seem to turnover pretty fast.

I live in a flat, second floor. Two flights of stairs.

"that must keep you fit", he says.

 

[jonesy]

I never said they were a significant contribution just a contribution. I'm sure the government would be grateful for any money they can fleece of the public. Inheritance tax - another double tax on those who look after their money.

You included it in a list of revenue sources from transport, implying that they influenced government decision making about transport. Hopefully you can now see that fines (which aren't taxes anyway) are so tiny in comparison with transport taxes that they are simply irrelevant in their impact on government funding, and therefore of no significance in decision making.

 

[jonesy]

Getting back on topic, not only is cycling a good way to encourage people to take more regular exercise, but the evidence is that the economic benefits of doing so makes it very cost-effective for the government to invest in cycling:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/health-fitness/health-economics/