RHA Urges Caution on Road Charging - More Questions Than Answers?

LONDON, December 1 -- In response to today's report from Sir Rod Eddington on future transport policy, the Road Haulage Association has urged caution on the concept of universal road charging. The Association believes that such a solution cannot, by itself, provide answers to growing road congestion.

"According to some, road traffic will grow by 30 per cent between now and 2015", said RHA Chief Executive Roger King. "It is hard to see, for instance, how road pricing in 2015 could reduce congestion levels to those of 2006 without resorting to penal rates".

The RHA believes that parallel to the introduction of any road pricing, investment in the strategic road system must take place. Extra lanes on motorways and better junction engineering will, for example, ease congestion hot spots.

"HGV drivers report that one problem in need of urgent attention is that of actually leaving a motorway. The consequent tailback caused by queuing causes huge delays. By tackling these issues with a proper investment programme we can keep traffic moving and reduce damage to the environment", said Roger King.

The RHA is less convinced about the trial road pricing zones.

"We are worried about different schemes in different parts of the country. Ministers have assured us that the technology will be the same but charging scales could be very different".

The RHA believes that until a nationwide charging scheme is introduced, Hives should be exempt from any trial scheme.

"Trucks are not a prime cause of congestion. We deliver when the customer needs the goods. Our members travel all over the UK while of course foreign hauliers do so too. Just how do you install black boxes in all these vehicles on the off-chance they might access a charging zone?" asks Roger King.

The RHA cites the West Midlands as an example.

"This region is still the workshop of the UK. How can it make sense to add to costs by charging HGVs bringing and collecting essential supplies and finished goods? How would you ensure every foreign haulier was captured in the scheme? We currently have no idea who they are; will this change?

"Sir Rod Eddington's report does at least continue the debate on transport provision. It gambles on the proposal that drivers will alter their travel patterns by responding to the high charges. All we know is that peak time travel on the railway continues to rise despite ever increasing ticket prices - demand management that doesn't seem to work. So will it work for motorists?

In the meantime, it vital that HGVs should be exempt from any trials. To include them is a recipe for chaos and higher costs for society in general".

As Sir Rod Eddington himself said in response to a question on the whole issue of road pricing, "The devil will be in the detail".

The Road Haulage Association - supporting the industry on which the UK depends.

Contact Kate Gibbs, RHA Communications Manager on: Tel: +44(0)1932-838917, Mob: +44(0)7979-531451