congestion charge - Ken’s 212% Conjestion Charge Hike Will Hit Families Hardest.: "Ken’s 212% Conjestion Charge Hike Will Hit Families Hardest.

4th December 2006 15:02:38

If you thought the mayor of London’s latest proposal to increase the congestion charge from �8 to �25 would just hit 4x4 drivers, think again.

The SMMT - the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, has put together examples of 10 family cars - people carriers, estates and family salons that will also be liable for this 212% hike in the central London motoring tax, based on findings from an independent source, VCA data.

So if you drive any of these petrol models - Vauxhall Zafira, Renault Espace or Seat Alhambra on a 2.0 litre, Jaguar X-type 2.5 litre, Peugeot 407 estate 2.2 litre, Honda Accord estate 2.4 litre, Ford Mondeo estate 2.0 litre, Saab 9-3 estate 2.3 litre, VW Passat saloon, 1.8 litre turbo tiptronic or Citroens C5 saloon 3.0 litre - your tax band falls into the same as 4x4 that of G which means 225g/km of CO2.

But of course, dear old Ken seems to have forgotten that families like to travel abroad with their families or caravans, hence the estates, and that all children must have their own seats, hence people carriers while other families enjoy the comfort of a saloon to get sway from the ‘mumsy’ look.

So yet again the families are being hit on, families who already pay the penalty through higher road tax and fuel costs. 'Buy I diesel ' I hear you cry. Well, there is not much incentive as the initial cost is higher than petrol variants and fuel but a few pennies cheaper.

I suppose the incentive could be this preposterous proposal. But drivers across the UK be warned, whilst the congestion charge is in London, it won’t be long before it hits all major cities. I fell another car protest coming on."