M6 Toll

If that's their definition of a van then both my Volvo and RaRo are vans. What sort of cretins are these people? I'll definitely join your go-slow if they don't do something about that.

David

It was on Midlands today yesterday that they are being forced into a rethink on prices after outraged MPV drivers were charged van rates

Si

"John Stokes" wrote in news:brflc8$gt8$ snipped-for-privacy@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk:

Ironically, my Citroen Dispatch (which is clearly a van) is about 1.2 metres high at the front axle. However, I doubt that they'd let me dive into the back for a tape measure to prove it.

Of more concern is that most MPVs are van-derived cars. For example, the Citroen Synergie is based on my van, the V-class Mercedes is based on the Vito, and the Ford Tourneo is based on the Transit. Even the MPVs that are not van-based still have van-shaped front-ends. So, if they go on height at the front axle, they'll be charging a lot of MPV drivers double the car rate.

However, the Severn Bridge tolls make even less sense. They charge twice as much (£9) for a tiny van (say, a Peugot 206 van) as for a big car or even a 3.5 tonne motorhome (£4.50). It doesn't matter that you have a private van that you use as a car -- you still have to pay double.

We went for a drive down it on the day it opened (got the certificate too!) As we came into the toll booth the display was reading £5 (we were in the disco) but then changed to £2, I guess the booth operator saw the wife and kids and changed it to car perhaps.

Aside from that the journey from junction T2 Cannock down to M42 J6 (airport) was about 20mins, beats the pants off sitting on the M6 and all the hassle of that M5 junction!

Chris

Is there still a FREE bit of Motorway, if not, I'll just avoid Brum in the future

I think the best thing to do is check the vehicle as it passes a point before the toll booth with a verticle array of infra-red beams. Pass this through a computer to determine the profile of the vehicle. If there isn't clear line of sight through the vehicle at say 300mm in and down from the back corner of the vehicle then it's either a van, an estate car loaded above seat height or one of those cars with poncey blacked out rear windows (sorry, privacy glass) - all of which, in my opinion, should be charged at the van rate.

Simon U

The last time I crossed the Severn bridge (into Wales) I was in the 109 and was told by the lady in the booth (and I quote)

" I charge all my landrovers as cars"

Whether this is company/council policy or just hers I don't know but it was very nice to here.

Anyone else had this ?

What happens if they want to charge you £5 and you refuse to pay. Do you reverse back up the M6?

Alex

Once upon a time I was going to drive over the humber bridge assuming the tax exempt status of my limo at that time gave me (and my disabled mum who had an orange badge) droit de passage, it didn't so I did a U turn holding up all the traffic just to show them I wasn't going to pay.

I reckon with my maximum speed being half of what the usual traffic is capable of I should get half price. Anyway if everyone decamps to the relief road thinking there will be less congestion it should leave the M6 free anyway.

On or around Sun, 14 Dec 2003 01:32:34 -0000, "Smurf" enlightened us thusly:

don't know, I'm too tight to pay the tolls, so tend to come back through Gloucester. I grant you this solution isn't so effective if you're trying to get to Newport.

# Yup - The Severn Bridge is a mystery (I guess they have to set a baseline for their tolls and go from there). I've been over it in Transits and Ford pickups towing light trailers - get charged the van rate. Turn up in Range Ruster or Landrover towing heavy horse trailers (total unit weighing about twice the pickup/trailer combo) and get charged £4.50 when I was expecting to get charged at least the van rate.

Now I just head for the cash bin and chuck £4.50 in and off we go - creates all sort of havoc then trying to get from the outside of about 10 lanes to the nearside - wonder if they'll put a cash bin on the nearside for me?

Graeme

You rebel.

In article , Graeme writes

I usually take the R80 - it's free.

When t'better half took a borrowed 110 to Tintern last summer she paid the car rate, despite having 10 people on board!

Regards,

Simonm.

Could that be on the same basis that an ex-colleague of mine got stopped doing 96 on the M40 in her BMW convertible, and got off with a warning when she tossed her blonde hair and fluttered her long eyelashes at the nice officer?

In article , David French writes

Possibly, she's certainly blond and has long eyelashes :) But the three or four pre-teenage thugs in the back at the time (and that's just the girls!) might have spoiled the image somewhat.

Regards,

Simonm.