I am a UK citizen, and just like countless others, every year I dutifully pay my Road Fund License. Herein lies the paradox - we contribute annually to this fund, yet we continue to navigate through poorly maintained roads that pose a serious threat to our vehicles and, more importantly, our safety. My vehicle, alongside countless others, has been damaged due to these conditions, making it increasingly difficult to pass the annual Ministry of Transport (MOT) test. If our cars are subjected to rigorous standards before deemed roadworthy, it's only fair that the roads we drive on should also be held to a comparable standard.

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that our contributions often seem to go unnoticed. As per the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, one in five roads in England and Wales were in a poor condition in 2019, with an estimated backlog of £11.14bn needed to bring the road network up to scratch. Despite us, the motorists, contributing £6.5 billion annually through the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as the Road Fund License, we're not seeing the improvements we are owed.

Given this stark contrast in the conditions of our roads and the contributions we make, it's time to question the continuation of the Road Fund License. The petition seeks to abolish the Road Fund License until there are tangible improvements to the quality of our roads. Our hard-earned monies should result in tangible benefits, and the current system simply isn't fit for purpose.

Please, sign this petition and join the call for change. We need safer, better-maintained roads for all.