Kinnock defends congestion taxes
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by Miles Brignall
• EU Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock's plan to introduce congestion charging to European roads has been criticised as being in danger of becoming "just another tax", by transport specialist Professor David Newbery.
Speaking at a conference to discuss Kinnock's ueen paper on Fair and Efficient Pricing in Transport this week, the Cambridge University academic said that unless the EC had the support of EU Governments, congestion charges might simply increase costs without rewarding hauliers who routed lorries around congested areas.
He argued that the charges should be linked to vehicle excise and even fuel duties to reward hauliers who avoid problem areas with significant financial benefits.
Kinnock said that something has to be done about congestion which is estimated to cost 2% of the EU's gross domestic product. He warned that all types of transport will have to pay their real costs, including environmental costs.
Operators using the most environmentally and roadfriendly trucks would enjoy a 40% reduction in charges through the new Eurovignette system, and this principle will be applied to congestion charging. Kinnock said the aim of imposing tolls is to regulate behaviour—operators using uncongested roads at off-peak times would save money.
Other academics said the significant costs of the electronic systems required to collect charges might negate the savings produced by less congested roads.