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09/06/2005
Road charging plans announced by Darling
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has announced plan to charge motorists for driving on Britain’s roads.
The Transport Secretary said that the measures, which could see motorists charged up to £1.30 per mile for driving in extremely congested areas, were necessary to prevent “gridlock” on Britain’s roads in the next twenty years.
The plans would see motorists charged 2p per mile for travelling on rural roads, but as much as £1.30 to travel on the country’s busiest roads. A satellite tracking system would be used to charge drivers for their journeys.
Speaking at the Social Market Foundation in London, Mr Darling said that a pilot scheme for the new plans could be tested within five years, although the plans are unlikely to be introduced nationwide before 2015.
The Transport Secretary announced the plans as a Mori survey, published today, and indicated that 16% of Britain’s drivers would refuse to have the necessary tracking technology fitted to their car, in order to pay the charges.
The AA Motoring Trust warned that motorists would judge road pricing on how it would affect them individually. Bert Morris, director of the AA Motoring Trust, said: “The key to public acceptance will be how individuals and families will perceive its effect on them. It must be seen as fair and sensible, better than the present system of road and fuel taxes and result in less congestion.”
Transport 2000 welcomed the proposals, although the pressure group said that many major issues still had to be resolved. Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000 said: “At last the idea of road charging is being taken seriously. Alistair Darling has turned the ignition keys on charging, but there is a very long journey ahead with many big issues to be resolved. Will motoring tax overall rise to encourage people onto public transport? Will traffic be displaced from key arteries onto unsuitable local roads? How can we use the system to stop traffic growing? Will charges be varied according to the ‘pollutability’ of vehicles? Will it help us reduce carbon emissions?”
Mr Joseph also called for the mileage rate for larger ‘gas guzzlers’ to be more than that for ‘greener’ vehicles to provide a very clear incentive for drivers to buy less polluting vehicles.
(KMcA)
The Transport Secretary said that the measures, which could see motorists charged up to £1.30 per mile for driving in extremely congested areas, were necessary to prevent “gridlock” on Britain’s roads in the next twenty years.
The plans would see motorists charged 2p per mile for travelling on rural roads, but as much as £1.30 to travel on the country’s busiest roads. A satellite tracking system would be used to charge drivers for their journeys.
Speaking at the Social Market Foundation in London, Mr Darling said that a pilot scheme for the new plans could be tested within five years, although the plans are unlikely to be introduced nationwide before 2015.
The Transport Secretary announced the plans as a Mori survey, published today, and indicated that 16% of Britain’s drivers would refuse to have the necessary tracking technology fitted to their car, in order to pay the charges.
The AA Motoring Trust warned that motorists would judge road pricing on how it would affect them individually. Bert Morris, director of the AA Motoring Trust, said: “The key to public acceptance will be how individuals and families will perceive its effect on them. It must be seen as fair and sensible, better than the present system of road and fuel taxes and result in less congestion.”
Transport 2000 welcomed the proposals, although the pressure group said that many major issues still had to be resolved. Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000 said: “At last the idea of road charging is being taken seriously. Alistair Darling has turned the ignition keys on charging, but there is a very long journey ahead with many big issues to be resolved. Will motoring tax overall rise to encourage people onto public transport? Will traffic be displaced from key arteries onto unsuitable local roads? How can we use the system to stop traffic growing? Will charges be varied according to the ‘pollutability’ of vehicles? Will it help us reduce carbon emissions?”
Mr Joseph also called for the mileage rate for larger ‘gas guzzlers’ to be more than that for ‘greener’ vehicles to provide a very clear incentive for drivers to buy less polluting vehicles.
(KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
