From: snail@lsl.co.uk
Newsgroups: uk.transport
Subject: Re: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:54:07 GMT
Followup-To: uk.transport
Distribution: uk
Organization: Laser-Scan Ltd., Cambridge

In article <V9e1wB2w165w@mantis.co.uk>, mathew@mantis.co.uk (mathew) writes:
> nwp90@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Nick Phillips) writes:
>> And to answer someone else, road tax does not nearly pay for the roads. It's
>> like national insurance - just a token payment which you think goes to pay
>> for something specific.
> 
> At the risk of spoiling the fun, here are some actual data:
> 
> Whitaker's Almanack                
> 125th Edition, 1993
> ISBN 0-85021-231-6
> 
> Licensed motor vehicles in Great Britain 1990
> Private and light goods            21.952.000
> Motor cycles, scooters, mopeds        750.000
> Public transport vehicles             109.000
> Heavy Goods Vehicles                  449.000
> Agricultural tractors                 346.000
> Others                                 65.000
> Total                              24.511.000
> 
> Total includes 840.000 Crown vehicles and
> vehicles exempt from licensing
> 
> Road expenditure                 million/year
> England 1992-3
>         TG                                 370
>         Motorways and trunk roads        1.750
> Wales 1992-3
>         TG                                  37
> Scotland 1990-1
>         TG                                 130
> 
> TG = Transport Grant for local road systems
> 
> Vehicle licenses
> Motor cars                             per year
>         First built before 1947-01-01         60
>         Others                               110
> Motor cycles
>         Not exceeding 150cc                   15
>         150-250cc                             30
>         Exceeding 250cc                       50
>         First built before 1947-01-01,
>         exceeding 250cc, up to 101,6kg        30
> Three wheelers
>         Not over 150cc                        15
>         Others                                50
> Hackney carriages
>         Seating less than 9                  110
>         Seating 9-16                         130
>         Seating 17-35                        200
>         Seating 36-60                        300
>         Seating over 60                      450

You also need to add tax figures for the various weight of truck, and also
for the varying amount of wheels such vehicles have (more wheels - less tax,
for the same type of vehicle)

So I guess we need (at least)

LGV - are these the 4 ton and 8 ton trucks ?
HGV - I guess this is any truck not in category LGV
      HGVs (certainly artics) - the tractor unit is taxed less (several 100)
      if it has an extra axle, since this usually implies two more steering
      wheels (front four now steer), spreading the load more effectively.

      I think HGV tax is 1500 or so, but not sure. I think you save about 300
      or more by having the extra axle. I know this type of junk 'cos my
      next door neighbour traded up to get an extra axle on his truck.
-- 
snail@lsl.co.uk      

"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless
 means to side with the powerful, not to be Neutral."
                                                     Quote by Freire.
                                                     Poster by OXFAM.