Originally posted by HyperFocal:
Well, try taking charge of this:
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[b]Motorists concerned over new hike in ERP rates
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 October 2007 2124
hrs
SINGAPORE: Many motorists are unhappy about the increased
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced another hike in ERP
charges on Monday, including one that will cost motorists
S$5.
This is the third time that ERP rates are being raised this
year.
Drivers said they hope that with the recent increase in petrol
prices, the raised charges could be delayed.
The biggest hike will hit those travelling on the Central
Expressway (CTE), where rates will hit a high of S$5 after an
increase of S$0.50.
Pao Kiew Tee, a motorist, said: "I don't think increasing the ERP
is the way to control traffic. The traffic situation doesn't seem
to improve. I think they must look at it more fundamentally, look
from another point of view instead of increasing ERP."
Harry Soh, another motorist, said: "We are already financing a
heavy petrol price right now so any increase in ERP, increases the
burden of our so-called livelihood we don't get a pay increment,
but everything else is increasing!"
Some also have suggestions on how to ease the congestion on the
roads.
"The COE should go higher, around S$80,000. The traffic is
horrible, especially at the CTE and TPE. We must reduce the vehicle
volume; there are just too many vehicles on the road," said Oh Boon
Song, a taxi driver.
Janet Chee, another motorist, said: "If we can plan our route
earlier or leave earlier, maybe it won't be so crowded. I don't
know how we are going to expand the roads."
The ERP rate hike will be implemented on 5 November.
[/b]
This is a prime example of people making their own lives
miserable. The purpose of ERP is to discourage people from driving
their own cars and using the roads. Yet by complaining about the
ERP charges and yet paying out of their own free will, these
drivers are just showing the government that the ERP is not really
working and that there is further scope for increase in charges as
the people are still willing to pay.
It's time these drivers realise that in Singapore, having and
driving your own car is a premium luxury. If they can't really
afford it, they should just take public transport and stop
complaining about the high costs of car ownership and usage.
And if you'd like to know I don't own any car and neither will I
ever. I don't even have a driving license, as I think that car
ownership in Singapore is just a bottomless pit for your money, and
the benefits simply will not outweigh the costs ever.
Therefore, this is a prime example of how the Bear says
Singaporeans are making themselves miserable by running the rat
race and trying to "one-up" the next person in terms of status and
ostentatious consumption.
