Row over road charging - Introduction

Another row over a nationwide system of pay-as-you-drive road tolls is brewing.

The Department for Transport is expected to introduce a new bill for road user charging this parliamentary session, so the British Chambers of Commerce has put UK-wide tolls on the agenda of its annual conference.

The RAC Foundation's Edmund King is addressing the conference and will tell it that while a nationwide system is now certain, it needs far more careful 'marketing' than the DfT is currently giving it.

'Turkeys don't vote for Christmas and motorists won't support road pricing unless they know that it will come as part of a congestion-busting package that will give the UK a first-class transport system for business and personal travel.'

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) attacked the Chambers of Commerce for 'failing to represent the interests of its members by holding a sham debate on the issue.

'The only way that road pricing can work is if it prices a substantial number of drivers off roads. Inevitably, those on lower incomes would be hardest hit.'