Are all efforts to discourage environmentally unfriendly driving a good thing? Here at thegreencarwebsite.co.uk we prefer to show both sides of the debate – and one journalist is getting his message across loud and clear about the flaws of the congestion charge system.
Martin Cassini, of fitroads.org, has written a passionate article about the traffic congestion problem in the UK which, according to the CBI, costs the UK economy around £20 billion a year.
He believes that the real blame lies with intrusive traffic control, and above all with 24hr traffic lights which he claims are “badly-phased”, blaming them for jams and hostility. Common sense and courtesy on the roads would prevail were a different system adopted and then, if road capacity is exceeded, a charge may be justified – however, until then, he claims, it is another premature layer of control.
Mr Cassini goes on to state that the congestion charge does nothing to reduce danger and delay at junctions – by contrast, by removing priority the need for lights is removed and road users can take it in turns.
Regardless of whether you believe his solution about the scrapping of 24hr traffic lights is justified or not, he makes some points that are difficult to ignore regarding the congestion charge itself.
He highlights that the eagerly anticipated hydrogen Honda FCX will soon be available in Japan and the USA but not in the UK because of the lack of refuelling infrastructure and that vehicles such as a Lexus with emissions of 192g/km are exempt from the congestion charge simply because they use hybrid technology yet many other vehicles including a Fiat Eco Version, a Seat Ecomotive and a Skoda Greenline are not exempt despite polluting considerably less.
To read more of Mr Cassini’s opinions, check out fitroads.org.
To summarise he describes the congestion charge as “inept”. But here at thegreencarwebsite.co.uk we want to know what you think? Would you like to see a congestion charge introduced in a big city near you? Do you agree that the concept is inept or do you think it encourages drivers to think green? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
