Will Slashed Fuel Duty Lead to More UK Toll Roads
The tax cut announced by Rishi Sunak’s in the Spring Budget statement this week along with a forecast that fuel duty revenues will fall due to electric car uptake, has sparked speculation that ministers are considering changes. For instance, the introduction of more pay-to-drive ‘toll’ roads to ease the financial impact on the country.
An unconfirmed source told The Times: “It's definitely being taken very seriously in Downing Street. The policy unit is giving it a thorough look and the problems with fuel duty now make it more urgent.”
The M6 is the UK’s only major toll road, which on weekdays costs £7.10 for cars and £12.90 for HGVs (at time of article).
By rolling out more toll roads on motorways, the government could go some way to filling an expected £35 billion budget hole caused by the 2030 ban and subsequent fuel duty shortfall on new petrol and diesel car sales with the introduction and possible mass adoption of electric vehicles.
As well as introducing more toll roads, other recommendations have been made to increase tax payable by drivers. One cross-party Commons Transport Committee idea is the use of monitoring technology to charge drivers a fee based on type of vehicle, distance driven and level of traffic.
