Road user charging for the UK?

Road user charging is being considered for the UK.
By MJ Woof November 17, 2020 Read time: 1 min
As electric vehicles proliferate on UK roads, road user charging will have to be introduced to replace duty on fuel - image © courtesy of Mike Woof

Road user charging is being considered for the UK as a future means for raising revenue. The plans are being revealed now as a way of generating revenue as the switchover from electric and diesel fuelled vehicles to electric vehicles continues. 

Both petrol and diesel fuels are heavily taxed in the UK. This provides significant revenue for the British Government. But as EV use grows, there is a need deliver another source of funding to replace the estimated £40 billion generated by duty on fuel.

The concept of road user charging is by no means new, having been mooted several times in the past. But with far more EVs now being used on the roads, the concept has once again been suggested. Technology has advanced considerably in recent years and with most modern vehicles now featuring GPS systems, determining location would not be as difficult as previously.

There are numerous different models being considered, though the most logical would be to set rates based on factors including distance travelled, whether journeys are made at peak times and if trips are made in congested urban areas. Drivers travelling at night along quiet country roads for example would be required to pay considerably less than those using busy urban routes during the peak rush hour times.

Highway & Network Management

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