National road toll trials start in 2009
Despite previous statements from the Government suggesting that it had abandoned the idea of national road pricing, hundreds of drivers are to take part in a trial scheme next year.
Paul Clark, the Transport Minister announced this week that volunteers will have their vehicles fitted with satellite-tracking devices that have the ability to collect all road charges by automatically deducting payment from their bank account.
The same technology could be used to introduce pricing on all roads, with the price varying according to the time of day and the level of congestion.
Why road-user charging makes sense
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Government dithering over the issue of national pay-as-you-go driving has put the focus on concerns over privacy and cost.”
“The government should show leadership by highlighting the benefits of reduced congestion and the abolition of fuel duty and road tax and announce a ten year countdown to national road user charging.”
| National road pricing | …the benefits |
|---|---|
| A petition against road user charging that gained almost 2 million signatures centered on concerns about privacy. Under the new plans, drivers would be billed online and could choose whether details were shown of where they had travelled or simply the amounts they had paid. At the time of the petition against national road pricing, the ETA appeared on Sky news to put the other side of the argument |
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Road pricing and privacy
Paul Clark, the Transport Minister said: “Nobody will thank us if, as a Government, we do not look at every option. Any form of road pricing must address people’s concerns around fairness and privacy. If we sit back and do nothing you can be sure that economic growth will lead to gridlock.”
He described the trials as the basis of a pricing “tool” that was most likely to be used first by local authorities. Manchester is carrying out a referendum on a congestion charging scheme the result of which will be announced on December 12.
Related articles:
Road user charging is always 10 years away
What is road-user charging and why is it important?
Should lorries pay nothing?
London congestion charge to change
Road tax increases will affect 9million drivers
What is the ETA?
The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
