Motorcycle industry association refutes "bikers are tax dodgers" claim

[Bob]

The Motorcycle Industry Association has described the Public Accounts Committee's claim that nearly 40% of motorcyclists are road tax dodgers as a “gross over-estimate of the true problem using deeply flawed methodology”.

Motor Cycle Industry Association chief executive David Taylor said that they have challenged the Department for Transport (DfT) methods, adding that the way of assessing road tax evasion is wildly out of date.

DfT's estimates are based on roadside surveys which make the “flawed” assumption that motorcycle traffic patterns match those of general traffic. Mr Taylor added “The number of evading motorcyclists observed in the latest survey was less than 1 per cent higher than the previous year, yet we are expected to believe that motorcycle VED evasion rose by 47% from an already highly unlikely figure the previous year. Common sense suggests that the estimate of nearly 40% is wildly inaccurate, or they would surely be very easy to catch."

For original news item on this subject: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=65494

[RiderInBlack]

Which tax are we supposed ta have evaded?
Dam figure is low IMHO. At least 50% of the general population is trying ta dodge tax, so that must make us bikers better than average:whistle:

[Badjelly]

Which tax are we supposed ta have evaded?
British road tax, I think.

I'm guilty: I've never paid it in my life.

[RiderInBlack]

British road tax, I think.

I'm guilty: I've never paid it in my life.Funny thing that, never have I:scratch: Dam Kiwi Bikers evading British road taxes:nono::wait:

[Nagash]

Maybe they're including dirt bikes who never go on the road?

Bugger knows.. seems pretty ridiculous to me, or it isn't saying much about the traffic cops doing their job.