Charge those who run up public bills
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THE ROAD Haulage Association touches a delicate spot when, in protesting that public accident costs should not be charged to road users, it points out that "industries such as construction and mining, and recreations such as climbing and sailing, do not pay for the extra costs they impose on public funds."
Any suggestion that those who embark on foolhardy enterprises and run up big public bills and endanger life in their rescue should be made to pay is deplored by the adventurous. Risk-taking is everyone's right and is often admirable, but those who indulge in it should at least insure themselves against the cost of rescue.
That is no less reasonable than the association's suggestion that, like industzy, which pays dearly for digging trenches across private property, statutory undertakings and others that lay cables, pipes and so on under the roads should pay for the facility. They are also road users, albeit underground, and might be expected to share the cost with vehicle owners.