Dear MCN.
I have just finished reading your article on the idea for a 'Crash Tax'. I must say, I believe the idea is wonderful.
However, I would like to add my own suggestions to the idea, predominantly, why limit the tax to motorbikes?
According to the Road Casualties in Great Britain: 2004 report, Motorcycle (Well, Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicle) accidents were listed at totalling 25,641. Car accidents, however: 183,858. So as you can see, there is much more money to be had 'crash taxing' car users as well as bikers... (Although I am unable to source any accurate info on this figure, I am also quite convinced that car accidents cause more harm to pedestrians than bike accidents do also)
Cyclists are hardly taxed at all, not hiving to pay road duty or fuel, so why not get at least some money out of the economically sound-minded road users? 16,648 people were injured as a result of cycling.
In fact.. have you seen how dangerous being a pedestrian is? 34,881 incidents, 671 of those, fatalities, (Compared to 585 'two wheeled motorists' ) And with many women (and some men) putting their very lives at risk wearing hideously unbalanced high heeled shoes, I feel it is prudent to introduce a 'stumble' tax.
With all this new income, the NHS will soon be able to pay us to stay at home all day, where travel accidents can be reduced to a minimum... But then again, it is known that a lot of accidents occur in the home...
Yours,
Kevin Tomes
All figures sourced from:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats_038553.hcsp