Plans unveiled for UK’s first national road pricing scheme

A new charge is set to be introduced by the UK government, with foreign lorry drivers having to pay £10 a day to use British roads as part of the first UK road pricing scheme.

The idea behind the charge is to try and level the playing field between British and continental lorry drivers, as Brits already get charged for driving abroad.

Haulage experts believe this will require all lorries to be fitted with a tacking box that can be monitored via satellite. However, UK hauliers are also likely to have to pay the charge but will be reimbursed in the form of either reduced tax disc costs or fuel duty.

At present other countries in the EU charge lorries a maximum of 16 euros a day and the UK government is keen to level its figures in line with their European counterparts.

Roads Minister, Mike Penning, said: "Each year there are around 1.5 million trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries – but none of them pay to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill.

"A lorry road user charge would ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from – helping UK hauliers to get a fairer deal and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK."

Road user charging is designed to help the government boost its coffers without putting the nation’s economy at risk. Scrapping my car for cash remains an area where UK road users can improve their understanding, with significant savings to be made as well as protecting the wider environment.


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