'Rewards' for drivers who back road prices

Motorists will be offered incentives to take part in road-pricing experiments, under government plans to rescue its policy of reducing congestion by charging vehicles by the mile.

Rather than forcing drivers to install a black box, to track their cars’ movements, ministers hope to encourage volunteers by making the system financially attractive.

The Government was taken by surprise by the strength of feeling against road pricing in the petition opposing the idea on the Downing Street website. It attracted 1.8 million signatures, compared with 5,000 for a petition supporting road pricing.

The Department for Transport is developing an approach where drivers will be offered a choice: carry on paying motoring taxes or switch to a road-pricing meter in the car that could save money.

Drivers could be offered a discount on fuel duty in return for agreeing to pay a distance-based charge, which would vary according to the level of congestion. DfT officials are studying an American trial in Oregon in which drivers who agree to pay a mileage charge have duty deducted from fuel bills.

The department hopes to test the voluntary approach in regional pilot schemes due to be announced this year. Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge are being considered for the experiments.

The hope is that positive reports from volunteers will help to silence suspicions about the concept, including concerns that the black box will be used to spy on drivers’ movements and to raise the overall amount paid in motoring taxes.

Ministers have promised repeatedly that neither of these things will happen but the size of the petition suggests that many drivers do not believe them.

Under the new approach, drivers would be encouraged to see the black box as a useful tool, not an intrusive tracking device. The box, which would use satellite positioning and a digital map to record the vehicle’s movements, would act like a taxi meter. Drivers would be able to see the true cost of their journey mounting up as they sat behind the wheel and might decide to travel at a cheaper time, by a cheaper route or even on public transport. At present, motoring taxes are almost invisible to drivers because road tax is paid annually and fuel tax is collected automatically at the filling station.

The RAC Foundation supports the voluntary approach but believes that the Government should offer participants a whole package of benefits. It has developed a concept called “UK Drive Time”, which would involve installing a black box capable not just of calculating the distance charge but also of giving advice to the driver about congestion and offering faster alternative routes.

The system could also allow the driver to pay less for insurance. Norwich Union already offers a “pay-as-you-drive” policy under which drivers pay less if they avoid driving late at night and in the morning peak, when most crashes occur.

Edmund King, the foundation’s director, said: “It would be political suicide to force road pricing on drivers. They need to be tempted to opt in.” David Begg, the Government’s former transport adviser, said that ministers should learn from the introduction of the Oyster travel card in London. “No one was forced to get an Oyster card but the incentives were gradually increased and now more than ten million people have one,” he said.

An American road pricing experiment in Seattle found that almost 80 per cent of volunteers made fewer car journeys on congested roads when offered a financial reward.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1658091.ece

Ford focus wins top honour at Auto Express Used Car Awards 2007

Ford took the top award at the Auto Express Used Car Honours 2007 by securing best used car with the Ford Focus.

Further winners for Ford were the Ford Mondeo, which won the category for best family car while the Ford Focus also won the award for best compact car. The Ford Fiesta was commended in the supermini category and the Ford Focus ST was commended in the hot hatch category.

Commenting on the Ford Focus honour, Auto Express Editor David Johns said: "When it came to picking an overall winner, there was no argument. The Focus offers an unbeatable all-round package".

The Ford Focus was the overwhelming choice of Auto Express's panel of expert judges, which included Jeff Paterson from industry trade bible Glass's Guide and car trader-turned TV presenter Mike Brewer. They summarised its performance by pointing out that the acid test of asking themselves whether they could recommend a car to a close friend or relative didn't apply to the Focus because all the judges would happily take one home for themselves to keep!

Ford Focus strengths recognised by the panel of experts included its quality interior, fine engines and excellent chassis, and genuine desirability. Like any other Ford – the judges noted – owners also benefit from low running costs and a huge dealer network.

Kevin Griffin, director of fleet operations Ford of Britain and responsible for used car sales nationally, commented: "The top award recognises the strength in depth provided by the Ford Focus range. Also, it underlines the quality and reliability offered by the Ford range backed up by low cost of ownership and an unmatched dealer network."