[dazc]

Maybe not a long term alternative but taxing drivers behaviour via extreme penalties rather than the type of fuel or vehicle they use would not only raise revenue but may also encourage people to drive in a safer and more fuel-efficient manner?

For example, overtaking a cyclist regardless of the fact that you are already approaching a stop junction should result in a fine of at least £10,000.

Tailgating in a dangerous and aggressive manner, £50,000.

From everyday observation, this would raise a few billion in no time at all and price some very stupid and aggressive people off the roads entirely.

[MafellUser]

You will NEVER catch the perpetrator. Period. Also the cost of enforcement will quickly outpace any revenue gained, as council's parking enforcements has shown.

Even when caught says on CCTV, there's no guarantee you can find and fine the driver. There are over half a million uninsured cars on the UK streets at any time. Twice that many uninsured drivers. Even getting them to pay for insurance is hard enough, how difficult do you think it'd be to get them to pay £10k fine?

[dazc]

> 'Even getting them to pay for insurance is hard enough, how difficult do you think it'd be to get them to pay £10k fine?'

In a lot of cases the fine for having no insurance is lower than the insurance would have cost.

In other words, the system is seriously f*d up and needs to be changed.

[TimPC]

Driving without insurance should be a jailable offence and needs to be taken far more seriously. You are at risk of not having coverage when you cause significant injury or death to someone. If a breadwinner for a family is no longer able to work, the verdict may be more than you can earn in a lifetime which makes you into some sort of debt slave. Not having insurance when you can inflict severe harm on other people is quite dystopian.

[ClumsyPilot]

> If a breadwinner for a family is no longer able to work, the verdict may be more than you can earn in a lifetime which makes you into some sort of debt slave.

the bigger issue is the breadwinner's family will go from middle class to living in poverty. The types that don't pay insurance are not gonna pay court settlement in a timely manner.

[bluecalm]

Database of all cars. All penalties are assigned to the car and are to be paid on yearly inspection. If not paid, the car isn't allowed on the road.

If the owner of the car let someone else drive it then it's their issue to resolve.

We just need political will which isn't there. It's not a technical problem to solve.

[gruez]

This sounds good until you realize it's extremely regressive and will cause the average offender to go into a debt spiral.

[unethical_ban]

It doesn't sound good at all, it sounds absolutely tyrannical.