The Dartford Crossing connects the M25 across the Thames estuary and charges van drivers £2.50 to use, while they pay £12.40 to cross the Severn Bridge between England and south Wales.

The cost for a van driver using the M6 Toll varies from £7.22 to £11 depending on the time of day and length of the journey.
By contrast, the London Congestion Charge (LCC), results in van drivers paying between £9 and £12 – depending on whether they are registered to drive in the zone and choose to pay before or after the journey – for a day’s unlimited use.

Drivers make payments online or at designated outlets in order to drive in central London.

When this was implemented in February 2003, it was the first time that a “booth-less” road charging initiative had been successfully implemented in Britain.

Another government consultation concerning road charging “issues” concluded at the end of January.

This sought motorists’ opinions about how penalties could be enforced for those motorists who fail to pay when using any booth-less initiatives established in the future.

The European Commission has also previously stated its commitment to establishing road charging initiatives in EU member states as a method of driving down carbon emissions and reducing congestion in cities.

Peter Rimmer is managing director of Wigan-headquartered Fleet Dynamic, which specialises in consultancy, fleet management, training and vehicle supply and rental, as well as being chairman of a branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) based in England’s north-west.

Rimmer says: “The main issue regarding congestion charging is how the charges are applied and money raised when implemented.

“While in London it has proved to have had a very positive effect on traffic entering the capital, it does seem that the revenue raised has not been reinvested into the infrastructure of the capital – either on the roads or other forms of public transport.

“An argument many were making was that if the congestion charge was to deter travellers off the roads, they would find alternative methods of travelling across the city and hence the congestion would simply be shifted elsewhere.

“I’m also aware that some drivers have found the charging method unfair and felt it discriminated against the poor while benefiting the wealthy.

“So, in principle, congestion charging is a great idea but only if the charges applied are set at a realistic level and the money generated is reinvested into the infrastructure.”