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."

Alistair Darling is going to make an announcement at 1pm..


BUY BUY BUY

Just been watching sky news this minute, a trafficmaster employee was being interviewed and she let slip that the goverment was going to use TFC's system for the congestion charge, YYYYYYYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEE


Sorry over excited, but its worth 200 million ;-), obviously its not all going to go to TFC

I think Alistair Darling's idea like the majority of this goverment's ideas are Pie in the Sky. The cost of implementing such an idea would be prohibitive. The takeup would be poor and if 10 % of car users decided to query their bills the system would crash and probably with this government in power lead to transport standstill.

As a past holder of TFC getting out near the top but buying a few for my daughter and myself when it hit 5p and subsequently getting out again it seems as usual Promises to-day and apologies to-morrow.
Fo those holding good luck. I look back at TFC with pleasure but not much optimism.

If I did buy I would have a stop loss of 39-40p


The interesting thing for me is motor-ways were developed in order to get transport to use them in order to stop gridlocks. Now the reverse is being said.

I think eventually an integrated system of rail, road and perhaps waterways will have to be develope to shift heavy "repeated regular loads around the country".

But this would take a government capble of long term planning without trying to stay in power for its own wellbeing.


"Amongst of things."

Dave, I reckon TFC could be the next microsoft for satnav's, imagine each car with TFC's blackbox so as to use for the congestion charge, that means every car will be able to use smartnav, this suggests that car maufacturers will be foreced in to fitting TFC's black box and therefore take up smartnav, they will have a monopoly, I wonder how the goverment will get round that one

think of it this way for the current, the goverment is funding 200 mil squids to test the theory, thats a lot of black boxes, thats a lot of smartnavs ;-)

Not certain but I thought ITIS and MinorPlanet had similar systems. (Don't hold shares in either now but nearly got burnt with Minor Planet.

so you have not been watching sky news,

1) Alistair darling wants to use the same system as norwich union use for there pay as you go insurance, norwich union use TFC's system to do pay as you go

2)a TFC employee was being interviewed on sky news and she let slip that the goverment was going to use TFC's system... ITH use mobile phones for satnavs, TFC use blue boxes, Poles and FVD..

you should research more before making a statement like that fred, it shows you do not know enough to make a coment

The operative word is "wants". I will watch and wait!!!

these will be a lot more expensive in the morning ;-), as I speak up they go again ;-)

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.