Jump to content

'Congestion Charging'


News_Stig
 Share

Recommended Posts

440737-_41219499_traffic203.jpg

[ QUOTE ]

'Pay-as-you-go' road charge plan

Drivers could pay up to £1.34 a mile in "pay-as-you go" road charges under new government plans.

The charges, aimed at cutting congestion, would replace road tax and petrol duty, Alistair Darling has said.

The transport secretary told newspapers the change was essential if Britain was to avoid "LA-style gridlock".

Every vehicle would have a black box to allow a satellite system to track their journey, with prices starting from as little as 2p per mile in rural areas.

Unless action is taken now, the country could face gridlock within two decades

Alistair Darling

Mr Darling has outlined his proposals in several of Sunday's newspapers - previewing a speech he will give to the Social Market Foundation on Thursday.

A satellite tracking system would be used to enforce the toll, with prices varying from 2p per mile for driving on a quiet road out of the rush hour to £1.34 for motorways at peak times.

'Facing gridlock'

The Department of Transport says the scheme would be fairer because those who travel greater distances would pay the most.

HAVE YOUR SAY

It is more likely to make people think about the cost of a journey before undertaking it

Giles, Hitchin, UK

"We have got to do everything we can during the course of this parliament to decide whether or not we go with road pricing," Mr Darling said.

"Unless action is taken now, the country could face gridlock within two decades."

If public reaction is favourable, as the government expects, a pilot scheme planned for the Leeds area could be rolled out nationwide within the next 10 years.

'Act now'

The Environment Agency's Nick Rijke warned that shifting money away from fuel duty, as was being proposed by the transport secretary, would take away the incentive for people to use green vehicles.

The main message from the Environment Agency is we do not want people to wait for government policy to change - we want people to act now themselves

Environment Agency

"There would be no difference between me driving on the motorway in a green car as opposed to a five-litre Jaguar," he told BBC News.

"That would be a problem for environmentalists.

"The main message from the Environment Agency is we do not want people to wait for government policy to change - we want people to act now themselves."

Mr Rijke urged motorists to car share or use public transport wherever possible.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth broadly welcomed the introduction of road charging but warned it would be "no magic wand" in tackling the transport crisis.

Money raised through charging must be invested in the transport system to improve alternatives to car travel, spokesman Tony Bosworth said.

"The reality is road pricing won't be introduced for years - we need action now," he added.

[/ QUOTE ]

Source : BBC.co.uk

Discussion HERE

post-9278-137914310738_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...