When governments (federal, state, and county) design a budget, they need to consider the cost of maintaining infrastructure like highways and roads. Road wear is a form of mechanical and chemical erosion, where the surface of the road is worn away over time. Looking at the graphic below, which types of vehicles are likely to cause the most damage to roads over time?
Moterbike: 200 kg
Passenger car: 1500 kg
Pick up truck: 2500 kg
Flat bed truck: 3500 kg
Truck (2 axle): 7500 kg
Truck with trailer (4 axle): 30000 kg
Short Answer: In 2-3 sentences describe, with supporting details, which category of vehicle registration should governments charge the most for and why? Which vehicle category should be charged the least and why?
The category of vehicle registration that governments should charge the most for are the trucks with trailers (4 axle) at 30,000 kg. These vehicles weigh significantly more than the other categories listed and therefore cause more damage to roads over time due to their heavy weight. Charging these vehicles more for registration can help offset the higher costs of maintaining the infrastructure they damage.
On the other hand, motorcycle registration should be charged the least. Motorcycles weigh the least out of all the listed categories, and therefore cause the least amount of wear and tear on roads. Charging them less for registration can be a way to encourage more people to use motorcycles, which can help reduce the overall impact on road infrastructure.