Embryonic plans for a national road tolls system have been revealed in new bill currently before parliament. The proposed Transport for London (Supplemental Toll Provisions) Bill is designed to allow further road toll schemes to be introduced in Greater London.But the wording suggests the government has already settled on national tolling equipment. It states that the transport minster can prevent introduction of new toll roads in Greater London that use equipment “incompatible with a national standard.”It’s thought that Continental-style ‘credit’ charge cards will be used. The toll is deducted from the windscreen-mounted card when the car passes under a roadside reader. It’s also expected that the bill will be used as the basis for the nationwide introduction of tolling expected to be rolled out in the West Midlands and North West.When the bill is passed it will give Transport for London the ability to introduce road charging on individual roads including busy commuting routes such as the M4/A4 and M3/A3.There are also provisions for jail terms of up to six months for ‘interfering’ with on-board tolling equipment and obscuring number plates. Officials will even have the power to enter individual vehicles to check the on-board equipment.
Hilton Holloway
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