Private road pricing plan

Existing technology to provide basis for system

The government intends to rely on existing technology that is used by private sector companies to administer its proposed variable road pricing scheme, rather than build a system of its own, according to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

In a speech at the Institute of Public Policy Research last week, Darling said he expects to use satellite positioning systems operated by pay-as-you-go insurance or real-time navigation companies.

‘No one would expect these companies to calculate, collect and pass on road prices out of the goodness of their heart,’ he said.

‘But this approach does have potentially large benefits. It frees the private sector to do what it does best: to decide on technology and when to update it.

‘Government’s role would be to make sure the systems on offer worked properly.’

Darling said drivers already pass their location details to companies in return for a service that they value.

‘Drivers trust the companies with that information in a way that they don’t trust governments,’ he said.

And he suggested that a driver’s preferred company could calculate and collect the road charges and pass on the money, with the government not needing to have the information on which it was based.