“76% of drivers who do not pay ERP daily benefit from 15% road tax cut”, the state-managed media hailed, expecting us to fall in line and believe that the ERP is for the better good of the greater majority AND a necessary evil in land scare Singapore AND the government actually doesn’t benefit from it.

“Bullocks!”, says Stanislaus Jude as he explores the article.

SINGAPORE: Only a quarter or 24 per cent of all drivers in Singapore incur daily Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said this means the majority, who are not affected, are actually better off with the 15 per cent cut in road tax implemented in conjunction with the ERP changes.

Pointing out that the increase in ERP revenue is estimated at S$70 million against S$110 million from the road tax reduction, Mr Lim said this means a net revenue shortfall of S$40 million for the government.

Mr Lim was responding to questions brought up by Marine Parade GRC MP Lim Biow Chuan and Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Dr Lam Pin Min on the recent ERP hikes, coming at a time of rising living and fuel costs.

They had also asked whether the government would put a freeze on further increases in ERP charges.

The Land Transport Authority will continue to monitor the road traffic conditions closely. CNA

How much fault can you find with an article? Plenty, if you know where to look. And thankfully, this journalist/PR guy knows just where the dirt lies.

At first glance, the government, and the state media, seem to tell us a number of things:

1) the majority of Singaporeans gain from having the ERP, because “76% do not pay ERP daily”,

2) the government is not gaining from the situation, instead, the good people in power are actually losing some $40 million dollars in nett revenue because road tax has been reduced by 15 per cent, and

3) though not explicit in this article, the state’s argument has always been that land scarce Singapore has way too many cars on the road, hence the need for ERP and the other unpopular public enemy — COE.

Now, just what is wrong with these assertions?

First, only 24% of Singaporeans pay ERP daily. Notice the number takes precedence, and is pushed all the way up to the lead, even in the headline. We’re tricked into believing that ERP only affects a quarter of the population.

Ah! But the key point is not “24%”, but “daily”. If you don’t drive every Friday, for example, for whatever reason (you’re dedicating one day a week to Gaia, your mom needs the car, you gonna get drunk after work and wanna take a cab back) you’re one of the 76% that benefit from increased ERP and lowered road tax. I suspect the 24% only measures the people who drive to work in the CBD. everyone else is out. Now ask yourself: is this a realistic figure? Do you know anyone who goes to town most days, but not every day?

Now, ask yourself: is this a stupid figure to quote in the media?

Oh, by the way, if you don’t drive to work, you’re not one of the 24% who are affected. Even if you take a bloody cab to work every morning and have to pay the ERP charges anyway. Daily, check. Driver, no. You pay ERP daily, but you’re not the driver, you don’t count in the 24%. Wow. Does the ERP still affect you? Yes, of course!

Now, ask yourself again: is this a stupid figure to quote in the media? Yes it is. But it is carefully calculated to trick the reader. I know, because I have done it myself a lot of the time as a PR spin doctor. You’re lying, but not exactly. “It’s the readers fault they didn’t read carefully!” they’ll argue. Yes, even though they meant for it to be ambiguous.

Next point. There is a lot of talk about the 40 million bucks they lose as a result of cutting road tax by 15%, which they use as a reason to legitamise upping ERP again and again, and erecting more and more gantries. Now, here’s what they don’t tell you. Read the damn line again, mister.

Pointing out that the increase in ERP revenue is estimated at S$70 million against S$110 million from the road tax reduction, Mr Lim said this means a net revenue shortfall of S$40 million for the government.

Do you see it? They are not saying they earn 70 million from ERP. No! The increase is 70 million. Now somebody please tell me, how much did they increase the ERP by? 20%? Now for the simple calculation (once you get past the deception): 20% = 70 million dollars. 100% = $350 million* bucks!!! From ERP!?!?! WTF! But they play up the fact that they lose $40 million so much that no one sees this? Clever.

* figure assuming ERP increased by 20%

Now, count how much they make from road tax. Ok, my maths is not very good, but you get the idea, the point is seeing past the deliberate PR blur. So correct me if i’m wrong, maths professors. 15% deduction equals to $110 million bucks. So the full figure for road tax collections is in excess of $733 million dollars! Add up the road tax and ERP charges, that’s a cool billion dollars a year!

Fuck.

All this makes me think the overpopulation of cars concept, which leads to COE, and now ERP, is all a giant conspiracy. Who counts? Who estimates? The same people who tell you the roads are overcrowded then tell you because it is overcrowded, they HAVE TO tax you for a BILLION bucks — literally. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

It looks like the whole ERP scheme is just a web of misdirections to send us motorists heading the wrong way.

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