Wednesday 5th November 2008

Road Toll Devices to be Tested Next Year

Drivers could pay up to £1.30 a mile

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Toll proposals have proved unpopular

Road-pricing is to take a step closer next year with hundreds of drivers being recruited to test toll devices. The trials are due to start in early 2009 and if successful could mean charges of up to £1.30 a mile on the most congested roads.

Volunteers will have satellite-tracking devices fitted to their cars in four different UK locations. The drivers will have a dummy account set up in their names and money will be deducted from it when they enter a toll area. Theoretically the devices could be used to monitor a drivers speed, but ministers claim they will not be used for this purpose.

Paul Clark, the Transport Minister, confirmed yesterday that the trials will start despite previous indications that the Government has given up on the unpopular road pricing scheme. A feasibility study in 2004 found that the highest rate of £1.3o would only be paid by 0.5% of traffic. The on-board unit could also be used to deduct other fees such as congestion charging and drivers would get a single bill online.

A DfT document reportedly issued to the companies conducting the trials states: 'We need to explore how we might move to a different way of paying for road use: it is clear that any form of road pricing would be more effective if it could target congestion by charging on the basis of when and where a journey is being made.'

Mr Clark 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.’

[tolksee]

Another step towards Orwell's 1984. I'd encourage everyone to fight this to the death. Do you want the Government to know where you travel, when you travel, and how fast you are travelling, all of the time?

And addittionally, do you trust the government not to loose/distribute/sell that information?

[simonrockman]

Why do people always talk about 'Gridlock'. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. What happens is when a regular journey exceeds a threshold (around 75 minutes) we look for alternatives.

Road pricing is really about the government wanting an alternative source of income if electic cars become mainstream.

Simon.

[Grandmasterbt]

simonrockman said:

Road pricing is really about the government wanting an alternative source of income if electic cars become mainstream.

+1
its jsut another way for the government to try and control us and price us off the roads.

[rockystarr]

This is redicolous! If the government want road priceing why not just have toll booths? I bet its cheaper to run than sattalite as well.

[dean8718]

Why is it that when a TV/Radio presenter says something that may offend someone half the country is complaining or when some sg on Big Brother does anything we (Those who actually watch that st) are all like oh my god. Then when taxes are put up on everything we all just accept it.

[*taz*]

Shows how much notice they take of petitions.

Direct action is required, copy the French, burn a few ministers.

[Taita]

Destroy all of the cameras. All of time. Refuse to pay.

Mass refusal is the only way. It would work for the scammers too. Take everything to court and it would collapse within 2 weeks.

[red rider]

I already pay a fking road toll its called road tax

[norman156]

Yet another thing forcing me to vote for that tossbag Cameron next election...

[Simian24]

If they want us off the main roads this badly why not invest this money into public transport?

Why not go one step further and actually make it public transport which the Government own and run rather than subsidise to a company, who charge the earth to go half a mile to make profit?

If this takes off it will be subsidised within a few years an then where will we be?

[E21_Ross]

whats a joke is that we already pay per mile per say, it's called petrol.

with this, will we get out fuel for free? or will the overall cost just shoot up? if it's free it might make very early sunday morning hooning really cheap lol

[dublet]

I for one welcome this, as there is absolutely no way around blocking the signals or otherwise making the box not work, allowing them to drive free of charge.

[Ex Boy Racer]

I have been a labour supporter all of my life. But i am shocked by the actions of this government. They started by making university education the province of the rich, and now they are doing the same for driving.
Don't they realise that these measures simply do not affect wealthy people but disproportionately disadvantage the poor.
Sure, global warming and congestion are serious issues, but they need addressing by ALL members of society having to respond. You shouldn't be able to carry on the way you always have just because you can afford it.
In the 70's, when there really was a shortage of oil due to problems in the middle east, rationing was introduced. This meant everyone got a fair deal and everyone had to change their lifestyle to address the situation/ So why not do this again?
Oh...forgot... the Gov wouldn't make any extra money that way...

[Dr G]

Oh FFS not again - yet another letter to Mr Brown which again will result in a propaganda leaflet on climate change and no intelligent response.

[Coupe360]

This is a complete Joke that they are even trialing this! they already spend less than half the money made from motoring taxation on the road networks. Developing more efficient roads and better designed roads using all the current taxes should be trialled not this awful big brother method! If its ever implemented the country would be crippled half the drivers would attempt to use the ST public transport which wouldnt be able to cope with the sheer numbers and fail then everyone will have to go back to their cars as a result and be unable to afford to do anything but drive to work and back and sleep, and every tertiary business in the country would be affected as disposable income would be miniscule for the majority!

[Dwarfy]

So my morning journey of 120 miles leaving at 7am and using M62, A1M and A64 could potentially cost me £156 per day at the £1.30 rate. I do this 3 times a week and that is not including the return journey. Think I will join the dole queue now........

[Fiatfan]

norman156 said:

Yet another thing forcing me to vote for that tossbag Cameron next election...

Do you know for sure that he would not introduce such a scheme???

[THX138]

A good day to bury bad news...

[TheForceV4]

I agree with toll booths if they really want to do it, its simply proven to work. Chuck your money in the bin and off you go, no speed tracking nothing. No doubt theyll do it everywhere.....i wonder if thatll be the end of road tax then? Theyll be f*cked if they think ill have one of those trackers put in my car.

[what the hell]

Ths poxy goverment big brother road tax fuel tax vat on fuel now road pricing who are these people as well brown flying around every were what about global warming not heard of web conferencing but then again he would not get his jolly