Should there be Road Tax on Electric Cars

Path Holes

Isle of Man will levy road tax on Electric Cars from April 2020 to cover lost fuel tax revenue from petrol and diesel vehicles.

Currently Zero-emission vehicles  are not taxed at all, but from April 2020 they  will be subject to a £14 charge, infrastructure minister Ray Harmer has told the Isle of Man Parliament.

He said tax is necessary as funds collected from petrol and diesel vehicles will “rapidly decrease over the next 10 years”. and while it is “good to incentivise”, there are “other reasons” for people switching to electric cars, including improvements in technology.

He described at as a “difficult balance” of moving towards a new environment with electric vehicles, and the ongoing responsibilities of road maintenance.

“The highways need to be repaired and we need money to do that,” he said.

Currently, there are 280 electric vehicles and 706 hybrid vehicles registered on the island.

In October 2019,  House of Commons’ Transport Committee called for a national debate on road pricing anticipating an electric car revolution, and suggested some schemes including a Pay You Drive Road Tax.

Some Financial experts have predicted that the popularity of electric vehicles could lead to nationwide road tolls for all drivers totalling £700 a year, so it’s likely that the UK government will be paying close attention to the Isle of Man electric vehicle charge.

The Isle of Man Green Party (IOMGP)  spokes person said financial incentives are “important in encouraging the adoption of low carbon transport”. and  while a tax is to be expected, removing the incentives before people own an electric car is counter productive.

Do you think the government should be incentivising drivers to take up electric vehicles or perhaps you think it’s only fair to tax them like this? Leave us a comment below

Theory test is changing 14 April 2020

 From 14 April 2020, the car theory test will include 3 multiple-choice questions based on a short video you'll watch.

 

The change will make the theory test more accessible, to people with a:

·         reading difficulty .

·         learning disability.

·         developmental condition.

Currently, DVSA outlines a case study and then answer 5 questions about it.

This tests your knowledge and understanding of road rules.

This will change if you take your test from 14 April 2020. You’ll watch one video clip instead of reading a case study, and answer 3 questions about it.

How would video clip work

You’ll watch a short, silent, video clip. The video clip will show a situation, such as driving through a town centre, or driving on a country road and answer 3 multiple-choice questions about it.

You can watch the video clip as many times as you like during the multiple-choice part of the theory test.

For Example You can watch the video, answer a question, and then watch the video again before you answer the next question.

The type of questions you’ll answer about the video clip

You’ll answer questions like these:

1.    Why are motorcyclists considered vulnerable road users?

2.    Why should the driver, on the side road, look out for motorcyclists at junctions?

3.    In this clip, who can cross the chevrons to overtake other vehicles, when it’s safe to do so?

For each of the 3 questions, you’ll have to choose the correct answer from 4 possible answers.

Screen Layout :

Theory question

The left-hand side of the screen will show the video clip, with controls for :

·         play the video

·         pause the video

·         move to a specific part of the video on a progress bar

·         watch the video using the full screen

The right-hand side of the screen will show the question and 4 possible answers.

Who would be  affected

All car theory tests will use video clips from 14 April 2020.

This includes if:

·         you fail a test before then and retake if from 14 April 2020

·         your test is cancelled or moved for any reason, and your new test date is from 14 April 2020

What’s not changing

You’ll still need to study the same books and software to prepare for your theory test.

You’ll still need to:

·         answer 50 multiple-choice questions within 57 minutes

·         get 43 out of the 50 questions right to pass the multiple-choice part of the test

The hazard perception part of the test is not changing. This is where you watch video clips to spot developing hazards.

Other support

You can have reasonable adjustments made to your theory test if you have a:

·         reading difficulty

·         disability

·         health condition

These include:

·         extra time to take the test

·         someone to read what’s on the screen and record your answers

·         someone to reword the questions for you

New research suggests brake dust could be toxic emissions

In a study, where lung cells were exposed to exhaust and brake dust particles, they became inflamed  and less able to protect against bacteria , while lung tissue was also damaged.

Researchers have found that Metal-particle dust created by scraping brake pads account for a fifth of all tiny particle pollution on the roads.

Dr Ian Mudway, who led the research at the MRC Centre for Environment and Health at King’s College, London,  Said“ the focus on diesel exhaust emissions is completely justified by the scientific literature,”

He said: “There is no such thing as a zero-emission vehicle, and as regulations to reduced exhaust emissions kick in, the contribution from these sources are likely to become more significant.”

At the moment,  tail pipe fumes make up only 7% of the tiny particles found in roadside air – tyre wear, clutch scrapings and general road dust which may not be emitted from cars at all account for the rest.

 “But we should not forget, or discount, the importance of other components, such as metals from mechanical abrasion, especially from brakes.”

While brake dust makes up 20% of total roadside particle pollution, non-exhaust emissions make up only 7.4% of particulates from cars.

The share is set to rise to 10% by 2030, this is partly due to the increasing weight of cars and particularly heavy electric vehicles increasing wear on brakes.

Air pollution causes an estimated 64,000 early deaths a year in the UK. Around three-quarters of these are due to particulate pollution.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, spoke in July 2019 on the subject: “The automotive industry is committed to improving air quality and has already all but eliminated particulate matter from tailpipe emissions. Brake, tyre and road wear emissions are recognised challenges and emissions from these sources are not easy to measure.