Road pricing is no answer, says RHA

The Road Haulage Association notes with interest the Prime Minister’s assertion this morning that no decision has been taken on national road user charging.

"Such a tax on journeys would be full of problems. It would be intrusive, complex and hugely expensive. At best, the congestion benefit would be marginal," said RHA Chief Executive Roger King.

The RHA has serious doubts as to whether a national journey tax is practicable. This view is based on the experience of lorry road user charging, which was promised only for the project to be abandoned after four years and £40m spent on consultants’ fees.

"We need to change the debate", he continued. "Far simpler options are available for tackling congestion, such as: changes in the hours of employment - local and central government could give a lead here; and greater home working.

“Investment must be made to increase trunk road and motorway capacity, to meet existing demand for efficient and reliable transport, with or without a charging system. And at a more modest level, we are frustrated at the lack of progress in making relatively minor infrastructure improvements at bottlenecks.”

"Let's talk about reducing the burden of congestion, not about how to introduce a complex, unproven new journey tax," says Roger King.