Road pricing debate starts here

Is road pricing a good idea? Time to have your say

By PH Staff / Thursday, 8 September 2005 / Loading comments

Congestion charge: is it right?

Should congestion charging be introduced in all UK town and city centres, or should cars be charged for each mile they travel? Such are the kinds of questions and ideas the RAC Foundation reckons motorists could be providing in this year’s Share Ideas Day on 12 September.

The motorists' pressure group said it wants to encourage debate and generate new solutions on the subject. So it's encouraging the public to come up with new ideas on the subject of road pricing.

Some of the issues it posits are:

Could charging more for those who use the most congested roads be a fairer system than fuel duty and vehicle excise duty?
How could motorists guarantee that if charging was introduced that there would be equivalent reductions in other taxes?
Who would be the winners and losers? Some rural motorists might pay less but urban motorists more?
Would such a system penalise the poor or socially excluded who depend on their cars?
What would be the wider effects of road pricing on the North/South divide?
What would be the effects of road pricing on location of jobs or homes?
Would people try to move closer to work?
Will people try to take jobs outside of priced areas?
Will companies relocate away from the highest priced roads?
Will companies merely pass on the extra costs and therefore fuel inflation rather than reduce congestion?
Are motorists worried about being monitored by "Big Brother" Global Satellite systems?
Can people trust the Government to deliver a fair system?
Are there easier ways to reduce congestion than congestion charging?