ETA: Record petrol price would be eased by road pricing

With petrol prices predicted to reach £1.12 per litre in May 2008 and potentially as high as £1.50 per litre by the end of the summer, a strong economic case is being made for national road pricing, according to the Environmental Transport Association.

Director of the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “At present, fuel duty makes up more than two thirds of the total cost of petrol. Not only will road pricing cut congestion, it will save motorists money as there will no longer be any fuel duty or vehicle excise duty. Most roads, most of the time, have no congestion, so most people will either pay the same or pay less.”

“Most objections to road pricing are based on ill-founded concerns about invasion of privacy – people seem to overlook completely the fact it could ease the spiralling costs of motoring as well as help reduce congestion.”


Ends

For further information and comment, please call the ETA press office on 0845 389 1064

Notes to editors

Transport secretary, Ruth Kelly announced recently a further four years of funding for local road pricing pilot schemes, but made no mention of any plans for national road pricing, which last year prompted 1.8 million people to sign an online Downing Street petition opposing any such plan.

Petrol prices are predicted to reach £1.12 per litre in May 2008; there is a six-week time lag between global crude prices, which touched record highs of nearly $120 per barrel this week, and pump prices.

The Environmental Transport Association is a not-for-profit, ethical breakdown organisation providing carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport www.eta.co.uk