When I wrote yesterday about the failure to introduce a Brit Disc, or charge for overseas trucks to use our roads, I overlooked the fact that it is even worse than I thought.
Yesterday I explained how the Government reckons that it would be too expensive to introduce this tax, sometimes called a vignette tag because the tolls are set by Brussels and are set at a very low level – see below.
The main aim of the Government was not chaging trucks but building a database of overseas vehicles so they can track down and charge overseas trucks that have not paid their fines in the UK.
But not only did the Department for Transport virtually condemn trucks but it could not find an effective way to build a database of overseas vehicles.
So overseas trucks can use our roads without paying a penny, and the DFT has not found a way to build a database so that we can charge them for any misdemeanours. What a mess. So much for helping the hauliers.
You can see the report at the Department for Transport’s web site
See the maximum charges possible under EU Rules
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
href="Maximum%20charge%20levels%20under%20Eurovignette%20Directive_files/filelist.xml">
Maximum charge levels under Eurovignette Directive
Annual charges are capped at:
|
Vehicle
Emission Standard |
Number of
axles on vehicle |
|
|
Maximum 3
axles |
Minimum 4
axles |
|
|
EURO 0 |
€1,332 (£925) |
€2,223 (£1,540) |
|
EURO I |
€1,158 (£805) |
€1,933 (£1,380) |
|
EURO II |
€1,008 (£700) |
€1,681 (£1,165) |
|
EURO III |
€876 (£605) |
€1,461 (£1,015) |
|
EURO IV |
€797 (£550) |
€1,329 (£925) |
Conversion to £s as at 2 October
2007 exchange rates rounded to nearest £5.
Monthly and weekly charges have to be set in proportion to the duration of the use made of the infrastructure.
The daily charge for all vehicles is capped at €11 (£7.60)