Road user charging

As the volume of cars and lorries on our roads continues to rise, there is an increasing imperative to provide public transport, cycling and walking alternatives for the highway user in a way that is coherent and provides an integrated transport solution. Given the restricted capacity of existing rail and road networks and that many of us are unwilling to abandon the daily use of the car this is not easy but unless the networks are to become more and more congested we must manage demand and concentrate on sustainable and integrated solutions. Road user charging is a way to modify driver choice of when, where and how to travel and to make this financially achievable. CSS, whose members are responsible for managing three quarters of the national road network, have a key role to play in taking this national issue forward.

Where does CSS stand?

• Within their authorities, CSS members have the difficult task of helping to keep the network safe, balancing the needs of all road users and at the same time keeping traffic moving.

  Under the present regime for funding, with traffic volumes continuing to rise and with only limited controls, efforts to improve public transport and manage demand have not been able to prevent levels of congestion increasing.
  It is time for a new approach of which road user charging is an element If we are to keep the network accessible.
  all parties concerned; government, freight and public transport organisations and the public must take the issue of tackling congestion seriously.

  CSS is committed to an approach that

  1. Invests necessary controls with local authorities so that these bodies can effectively mange the traffic using the network (This will relate to road user charging, public/community transport, utility companies, parking and traffic management)
  2. Includes road user charging as a tool for managing demand with the funding ring fenced for transport, traffic management and infrastructure improvement
  3. Allows automatic collection of the road user charge so as to minimise the amount of on road equipment required and minimises the amount of administration required
  4. Ensures that the level of road user charging is directly related to the level of congestion or, where necessary, applied to prevent vehicles using unsuitable routes
  5. Encourages joint working by all interested parties to provide appropriate solutions that will have common ownership and promote an environment where road user charging will work with the minimum of controversy
  6. Recognises the contribution that road user charging can make to reducing carbon emissions and improving the quality of life.

  CSS urges the following.

  That Government, in introducing any road user charging scheme, ensures the funding is ring fenced to transport improvements