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."

not looking to good today either! but a long time to go today!

katcenka - you seem to have gone quiet after some very 'bold' statements recently. Are you still bullish about this stock??

Funny how some go from lots of posting to none at all. good message to all new comers. WATCH OUT!

Anybody who ramps their own favourite and slags a competitor off on another thread should receive a stiff ignoring. TFC down since this ramper appeared, sounded a bit like Pro actually. TFC will come good I'm sure.

pth

Easy,,,bought at just under 48 this month i think,i could check but i cant be bothered,i think it went to mid 50s ,but you never heard me talk it up did you !!

Love,peace,& sat-nan to you kivver,,,,,,,and there are plenty of posts here, there just all from you or katcenka,, respect.

dd

no probs with TFC, just that blatant ramping does more harm than good. TFC seem to have a good pipeline of customers and will have a look myself soon. Hmmm perhaps the ramper did some good afterall!

pth

46,PT.

PT,Good price wish i got it..

im on the case of the rampers, they really get on my t*ts, but trying to be more subtle than pt. Good luck to you both. Ive suffered with cyh so stopping out of this business for a while but will keep an eye on tfc.

still quiet?

Not in yet chaps. Don't like the look of the chart, still in a downtrend, although there are small indications that the tide may be turning. I'll wait for the 50MA to turn before I consider jumping in.

pth

how about buying your smartnav in ARGOS, bet you did not know you could buy it in argos ;-)http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=3151&langId=-1&searchTerms=smartnav

Centurian electronics (CUC) sell their products in argos (one was even on the bargains page for xmas) and look whats happened to them!!!!!!

It's bloody expensive, good product though I sold these at 85p still got them on my watch list.

599 is not expensive its only 100 more than a tomtom, and it bloody better than a tomtom

kat - some may have bought on your promises last week, anything to say those people to give them hope following your brave predictions.

Interesting chart though Kivver. I'll stick my neck out and would predict a bounce tomorrow off previous support. Possible Divergance on both the RSI and Slow Stochastic also. Bit of a falling knife, so I'll think I'll wait until the trend reversal.

pth

pth - they've lost the rover contract, that will need to be replaced, one thing charts never show is the fundamentals but good luck!

I think we will get told who the RDSTMC contracts are with tomorrow, going to top up this afternoon once I sold my mdy shares ;-)

Kivver,

It's all in the charts, even the fundamentals. Well, that's what they say!

Got my bounce, albeit a tiny one. Well, that's what the wife says!!

pth