MotorMad: Pay-as you-drive Road Charge Plans

A proposed nationwide pay-as-you-go road charge has caused a strong reaction from transport experts and campaigners. Charges ranging from 2p a mile on rural roads to £1.30 a mile for the privilige of driving on a busy route in rush hour - could replace road tax and fuel duty under the government's plans. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has insisted that his proposals for road-charging were not intended to drive motorists out of their cars.

Transport experts said it would be the world's most advanced road pricing scheme - but predicted political and technical difficulties in bringing it in.

Transport impacts on other parts of the economy, such as tourism. People will think twice about daytrips when this plan will mean an extra cost to drive gran and the kids to the seaside. Experts say other potential problems for the government include the effect on low income drivers, the reliability of the new technology, and deciding how to administer the collection of funds. And wouldn’t drivers just avoid motorways and choose cheaper rural roads? Which kind of defeats the object of reducing congestion.

But for those of you that think you’ll be worse off do not fear; a full-scale national scheme would take 10-15 years to introduce.