Cheaper fuel for drivers who reduce congestion

The RAC Foundation today called on the Government to give drivers who install a congestion charging meter a discount on fuel duty.

The Government is proposing a complicated system of road tolls, including higher tariffs for people driving on busy roads during rush hour. The satellite-linked meter would automatically monitor each journey and work out how much the driver owes, displaying a running total.

Motorists who choose their route and time of travel carefully would be rewarded with lower costs.

Each time the driver buys petrol, a computer in the petrol pump detects the meter and add the charges to the bill - then deducts fuel duties.

Experts believe this "sweetener" could encourage people to plan their journeys more sensibly and avoid congested city centres or busy roads.

The scheme has already been successfully trialled in Oregon. The RAC Foundation said a similar scheme here could rekindle public support for road-pricing after 1.8 million people signed a Downing Street petition opposing it earlier this year.

Drivers who had the meter fitted would also get free satellite navigation for congestion avoidance, stolen vehicle tracking and an emergency button to alert police or breakdown services.

Other benefits would include discounts on road charges for low-emission cars, information on parking and cheaper insurance.

The RAC Foundation calculates that if just 10 per cent of drivers subscribed to the voluntary scheme, congestion on major routes and in cities would be significantly reduced.

Executive director Edmund King said: "Having a meter in the car outlining the cost of each trip will lead to a reduction in journeys. Most motorists fill up with fuel every couple of weeks and pay tax and insurance once a year, so they do not think about the true cost of every journey."

The organisation says drivers already contribute £44billion a year in motoring taxes.

"If the motorist is to be won over, government needs to demonstrate that pricing will be part of the solution to their needs, along with more investment in transport - not just another means to raise money and price them off the roads," said Mr King.

The foundation, which unveiled the scheme at a transport conference in London today, said nine in 10 motorists do not trust the Government to deliver a fair system of road pricing.

But they would be more likely to trust a voluntary system with clear benefits for them.