Skip to main content

UK Government considers charging for use of motorways

The UK Government is considering plans that could see motorists pay an annual fee of up to US$236.99 (£150) to use the country's motorways and trunk roads. The charges would be introduced as part of a move to reform vehicle excise duty, which currently raises $9.442 billion (£6bn) per year. Although the Government has dismissed the imposition of a flat-rate fee on those using the UK's largest roads, it has said that it is looking into introducing more sophisticated access charges. These would vary according
February 12, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The UK Government is considering plans that could see motorists pay an annual fee of up to US$236.99 (£150) to use the country's motorways and trunk roads. The charges would be introduced as part of a move to reform vehicle excise duty, which currently raises $9.442 billion (£6bn) per year.

Although the Government has dismissed the imposition of a flat-rate fee on those using the UK's largest roads, it has said that it is looking into introducing more sophisticated access charges. These would vary according to several factors, such as by the weight of the vehicle or by a vehicle's CO2 emissions. The Government has said that these charges would be offset by a cut in the headline road tax rate. However, the 3440 AA motoring organisation believes that the measures will have a negative impact on low income households, who may find themselves confined to local roads.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Oregon: ready to go with OReGO
    June 23, 2015
    The US state of Oregon’s new pay-by-the-mile road usage charge program, OReGO, took a step forward last month.
  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
  • Stronger crash barriers may be needed for heavier trucks
    January 4, 2013
    The European Road Federation (ERF) has voiced its concern that roadside barriers in Europe may have to be upgraded According to the ERF, the recent decision of the European Commission to allow cross-border movement of longer and heavier trucks, it is keen to raise awareness of the important implications such a move may have for road barriers. ‘Road safety barriers are designed and tested according to the maximum weight of vehicles circulating on Europe’s roads. The current European Norm (EN 1317) allows for
  • Cifa gets pumped over final work on Milan bypass
    May 14, 2015
    Truck-mounted concrete pumps from the manufacturer Cifa have been working around the clock at one of Italy’s most prestigious road infrastructure projects, the Milan Outer Bypass. The toll motorway project, known by the TEEM acronym from the Italian name Tangenziale Est Esterna di Milano, involves 32km of new carriageway consisting of three lanes in each direction in addition to an emergency lane. The route winds through agricultural land and connects the A4 highway (Milano-Venezia) in the north to the A