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Who pays for our roads when petrol and diesel cars go?
Claire Haigh, CEO of Greener Transport Solutions and Executive Director of the Transport Knowledge Hub, spoke to ELN about a proposed road charging scheme
Image: ELN
With new petrol and diesel cars and vans banned from sale in the UK from 2030, who is going to pay for Britain’s roads?
That is the question facing Claire Haigh, Chief Executive Officer of Greener Transport Solutions and Executive Director of the Transport Knowledge Hub.
She told ELN any new system must be fair to all road users.
She said: “The most important thing about road pricing is to have a scheme which is politically deliverable. People need plenty of time to adjust.
A road charging scheme would be good if it doesn’t disincentivise electric vehicle (EV) takeup.
That’s the suggestion of motoring broadcaster and transport campaigner Quentin Willson who spoke to ELN about the benefits of a proposed road pricing scheme discussed last week on the Transport Select Committee.
The initiative is based on a report by the academic group Greener Transport Solutions, which suggests a pay-per-mile scheme should be mandatory by 2030 to replace the loss in the revenue the Treasury collects in fuel duty as a result of an accelerated EV takeup.
Mr Willson said: “The big problem the UK Government has is that every five years road charging, pay per mile has been suggested. And every time the public has had a backlash.
Select Committee told road pricing is one of the best fiscal changes to make
Report by Greener Transport Solution says pay-per-mile scheme should be mandatory in 2030, though voluntary for EV owners from 2023
It said the scheme should be based on vehicle weight, charging 2p per km for cars and higher charges for vans and lorries
A raft of grants and other incentives should be used to entice drivers to switch to EVs and use the scheme as soon as possible
It also urged the Chancellor to outline a 10-year trajectory to increase fuel duty