Road charging rebels 'in minority' Jun 9 2005

Only a small minority of motorists would refuse to have tracking devices fitted in their cars to allow the introduction of road-charging, according to a survey.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling last weekend floated controversial proposals to use hi-tech satellite systems to charge different rates for driving on different roads, ranging from 2p a mile for country lanes to 1.30 for the most congested inner-city streets.

He is expected to spell out further details of his thinking at a speech to the Social Market Foundation in London.

Mr Darling says that his proposals - which are unlikely to become reality earlier than 10-15 years from now - are not designed to drive people out of their cars, but to prevent Britain's roads reaching "gridlock".

Despite a furious response to Mr Darling's proposals from motorists' groups, the survey found just 16% of "refuseniks" insisting that nothing would make them have a tracking device in their cars in a road-charging scheme.

Others said they would be encouraged to install a "black box" if it would also help emergency services locate them after a crash (27%), give them discounts on road-user charges (24%), allow them to avoid repeated payments for road use (21%), help reduce their insurance premiums (20%), relay traffic information to their car (15%), provide proof of payment (13%) or provide directions and information about places of interest (9%).

The survey, carried out by Mori for IT consultancy Detica, suggests that Mr Darling may overcome public resistance if he ensures his scheme combines tracking technology with services attractive to motorists, said Detica's head of transport Grant Klein.

"Technology can be used to ensure charging is based on vehicle type, road type, time of day, even level of congestion - this creates the potential for a much fairer means of charging," he said.

"In addition, with such a scheme, there is greater scope for ensuring that the honest motorist no longer picks up the tab for insurance and road-tax evaders. By tracking those who fail to comply and pay their way, law-abiding motorists will see the benefit in their pockets and through improved safety.

"When presented with a list of potential benefits, 73% of vehicle owners we spoke to said they would consider having a device fitted. So the Government needs to push the benefits message home."

oh and up they go again... I think you will regret this fred

Maybe, but if you were right, I would expect some larger size buys. The overall volume is low and I would be more worried about next week than to-morrow. Could be wrong I am quite often.

Going well this morning.

I bet we go up at least 30% today, specially when the USA get wind of this

2/Jun/2005
BMW AND MINI PROVIDE SMARTER DEALS


For immediate release 2nd June 2005



BMW AND MINI PROVIDE SMARTER DEALS


BMW and MINI UK are now offering its approved Aftersales Accessory satellite navigation system, Smartnav, at an even lower price. Customers can now purchase Smartnav for 549 instead of 579. This price includes the unit, connection and a 24 month warranty.

In addition BMW and MINI have now approved Smartnavs Touch Screen, a small screen that complements the verbal instructions with clear graphics that display manoeuvres. This option is available at an additional cost.

Smartnav truly is value for money. Not only does it provide up-to-date navigation, but it uses Trafficmasters live traffic information to calculate the best route and monitor the journey for any new delays. Smartnav is supported by dedicated round the clock assistants, who at a simple touch of a button on the dashboard, take down the drivers destination details and logs them into a central computer. The computer stores mapping that is updated every quarter and calculates the optimum route. This is sent to the Smartnav unit in the car within seconds.

Smartnav is already a popular accessory within the 156 BMW and MINI dealerships across the country and can be fitted on all MINI vehicles and the following BMWs; new 1 Series, previous and new BMW 3 Series and the BMW 5 Series. Most BMW dealerships are able to provide Smartnav demonstrations and in some outlets, bodyshop and service departments courtesy cars are fitted with Smartnav so that customers can experience the benefits of Smartnav first hand.

BMW and MINI dealerships offer Smartnav from 699 including fitting. Annual subscription for the navigation and 24 hour Smartnav personal assistant is 120 and Touch Screen costs 199.

End:

Watch out for rampers!!! look at the axm thread.

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Happy days.

next week its going rocket... with AGM looming I bet the MM's lift us back up to 90p by next wednesday

Watch out for rampers!!! look at the axm thread.

katcenka - 10 Jun'05 - 08:50 - 13 of 20


I bet we go up at least 30% today, specially when the USA get wind of this

Didn't quite make it!

You seem to think these proposals will be adopted tomorrow and TFC systems will be installed in vehicles the day after. It will take at least five years for any such proposals to be worked through Government and that is assuming free passage for the any such Bill. If you believe for one moment that the British car loving public are going to accept the sorts of payments being bandied around, you must be barking. After the inital fuss and ramping has died down TFC SP will perfrom as it should, based on results, fundamentals etc. I can't see this having any medium term effect on the SP until a Bill is worked through Parliament.

If I'm wrong, my loss.

Incidentally without this spike the chart looks dreadful. Downtrend since beginning of 2004 and just pausing for breath at 40p ish support. Fails here, next stop 25p.

good luck

pth

Thanks pth for bringing a sense of reality to the thread. many other companies will be in with chance to, ie cyh, itis, minorlanet to name a few. Capita might be the biggest winners.

I am a holder having also got out near the top last time. I bought back in at 44.5p believing they were undervalued. I still think that at today's close price of 53-53.5 they have more upside than downside but to expect the SP to just rocket 30% in a day or two is unrealistic, and that sort of change would worry me - I'd get out as soon as I could. Far better a nice steady rise.

As others have said, this isn't going to happen tomorrow. Hopefully tfc will be beneficiaries but there are other companies who could do this, and the fact that the move is coming from governement means it could take years and could be completely messed up once the civil servants get involved.

Just my 2p worth.

SC

Any such legislation will undoubtably take years to impose. So many difficulties with the implementation alone, nevermind the ensuing riots when Joe Public has to pay over 1 per mile to travel on a motorway. All very well trying to get cars off the roads, but the public have to travel somehow and the UK transportation system is no better than useless and expensive. There is a lot more to this problem than just cars.

pth

Agreed. Having an idea in principle is great, getting Joe Public to actually pay hard cash is another thing.

Cant see it affecting us taffys,1 a mile do they allow tractors on the motorway,,,,,,,,,,in a welsh voice i say,,,,,,,fill her up dai am off to halfords to buy a sat-nav system!

So thats why HFD is on the rise!!

Watch out for rampers !! Katcenka is on Pipex thread!! why ????
DB66

Err......guess indulging in a spot of ramping DB66!!

I see you dont mention the Honda deal, I see you dont mention the standard fit for the ford fiesta in september, I see you dont mention the new peugeot 307 coming out in september that will have smartnav as standard, I also see you dont mention the AGM is next week and also the egm...

there is a lot of upside, no downside is visible now