Did you know the majority of funds collected by the federal gas tax does not directly benefit motorists? Yep. Now, lawmakers in the US and UK are looking toward new satellite-based driving-tax systems to provide what may be a more equitable solution. Such a system would charge urban, rush-hour motorists more than those traveling at off-hours or in rural, low-volume areas (in effect encouraging the use of public transportation, for which there's not a whole lot of funding — but that's a separate issue). As car-driving urban dwellers, we say, ugh. Click through for more.
This fall, as part of a $2.9 million pilot project funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Oregon Department of Transportation will install machines at specially equipped gas stations that can download mileage information from GPS "black box" devices installed in 20 cars. The system will calculate and charge the road taxes owed, and refund the gas tax. Location data won't be monitored at first — the system will only determine the miles driven in- and out-of-state, and charge tax only on in-state mileage.
US, UK Move Toward Per-Mile Driving Tax [The Newspaper.com]
Related:
Taxman in the Sky: Using GPS to Track Drivers Auto Use [internal]