Safe Speed Forums

RMIF meets DfT to discuss national road pricing impacts
“The logistical implications of enacting a national road pricing scheme need to be fully considered before any action is taken,” said Alec Murray non-executive chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation, commenting on a meeting between the RMIF and the Department for Transport (DfT) held on 16 April to discuss the impact of the Government’s plans for cutting road congestion on the retail motor sector.

While no decision has yet been made on the tracking technology to support a national scheme, and none is unlikely to be implemented before 2015, in the short term, a number of different schemes may be implemented by local authorities interested in congestion control. There are 12 registered so far.

Murray continues: “Road pricing may seem like a good idea in theory, but if it were to be rolled out, how would vehicles be tracked? Would motor retailers and repairers be fitting aftermarket vehicle tracking equipment onto existing vehicles? Would manufacturers begin to include tracking devices in new vehicles? Who pays for fitting and maintenance? There is a potential role for the MOT testing network, but the industry needs more information than it has at present.”

- Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference in London on Monday, Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation, said the Government must start marketing road pricing as a solution to real problems, not just as another way of raising revenue from the road user.

King said no-one would buy “road pricing” – but they might be interested in subscribing to "UK DriveTime" as a package of solutions that motorists actually want. Motorists who opted into a "UK DriveTime" scheme could benefit from reduced fuel duty, congestion avoidance systems, up-to-date parking information, cheaper insurance and e-call technology, which pinpoints the car and calls the emergency services in the event of an accident. The technology to run such a scheme already exists and is being piloted in Oregon, USA.

King said no-one would buy “road pricing” – but they might be interested in subscribing to "UK DriveTime" as a package of solutions that motorists actually want. Motorists who opted into a "UK DriveTime" scheme could benefit from reduced fuel duty, congestion avoidance systems, up-to-date parking information, cheaper insurance and e-call technology, which pinpoints the car and calls the emergency services in the event of an accident.

If they start with the premise of abolishing fuel and road tax, AND giving a binding guarantee that overall charges cannot be higher than at present, then I might potentially support the idea.

If you want to know how crap it can be just look at the London conjestion charge. They just keep on cranking it up.

At present most taxes need to be raised in the budget. With travel tax they will be able to do whatever they like whenever they want to, especialy if local authorities get control of the charges.

No chance. Calling it something else and keeping it the same isn't going to fool anyone.

If they start with the premise of abolishing fuel and road tax, AND giving a binding guarantee that overall charges cannot be higher than at present, then I might potentially support the idea.