PETER Boulton incorrectly states (Letters, September 25) that the car tax which he pays is the sole income source for upkeep of UK roads.

This tax on car ownership is actually Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and not all car owners now have to pay this. There are two levels of road funding.

Nationally, motorways and strategic trunk roads – the latter including the A64 through York – are funded by Whitehall. This is via a mix of the national taxes that we all pay such as VAT, plus a minuscule contribution from the VED which some motor vehicle owners fork out. Every other road in York is funded by the city council, principally from council tax income with some Government support.

D McTernan separately highlighted issues concerning York’s urban traffic control system. This can be programmed in various ways, to optimise the use of road capacity, and give priority if desired, to eg public transport and pedestrian activity.

It would be helpful to learn the extent of its geographical coverage, whether any standalone traffic lights exist that should be incorporated into the UTC, and whether we have any ongoing issues with eg data links. That would help both the public and the planned Congestion Commission members to fully understand what we have. It might also explode the commonly held myth that traffic lights are deliberately programmed to cause congestion.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.