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Government must lead public opinion on road pricing

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29 November 2006

The Government has to take on public opinion if it is to win the debate on road pricing according to new research, published today (Wed) by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr). ippr’s report shows that the public are not convinced that road pricing is the solution to Britain’s congested roads, but they agree that people should pay more, if they drive more.

ippr’s report, published ahead of the Eddington Transport Study set up by the Chancellor Gordon Brown and due to report next month, is based on an online poll of 1150 people, six focus groups and three day long deliberative workshops. The research shows that while more than 90 per cent of people see congestion as a serious problem less than 40 per cent said they supported road pricing as a solution.

The report says that there are three barriers to public acceptance of road pricing:
People are worried it would be ineffective. They feel that they already do everything they can to avoid congestion. Improving public transport is suggested as a more effective solution.

‘People have to make the journey when they do.' Focus group participant, Sale
People are worried that it would be another tax. They feel that motorists already pay enough taxes and because their journeys are unavoidable they are an ‘easy target’ to raise money.

'Just another stealth tax to get more money out of the motorist.' Workshop participant, Newcastle
People are worried about loss of freedom. They see this as government telling them when to drive and are wary that their movements will be monitored by ‘big brother’.

'It's "them" telling us when we can move and charging us for it.' Workshop participant, Canterbury.

But ippr’s research also shows that the public support the underlying principle of road pricing with 62 per cent agreeing that it is fair that you should pay more the more you drive.

'Heavy users should pay more.' Workshop participant, North East Somerset

'It's fair if people drive more they should pay more.' Workshop participant, Newcastle

The report argues that with strong political leadership that addresses the concerns over how any money raised is spent, how road pricing fits with current motoring taxes, and what would be done to improve public transport ahead of the introduction of a scheme, the public could be persuaded to support road pricing.

The research also highlights evidence from both London and Stockholm shows that once schemes have been introduced public attitudes have become more positive. For example, in London the net percentage in support of the congestion charge went from -5 in the month before it was introduced to +35 three months after.

Ian Kearns, ippr Deputy Director, said:

“There is widespread acceptance that Britain’s congested roads are an increasing problem and a radical solution is needed. A national road pricing scheme is that radical solution. People agree that you should pay more the more you drive but are yet to be convinced by road pricing. To build support for a national road pricing scheme the Government must address people’s concerns about, how a scheme would work, how any money raised would be spent and how privacy will be protected. The government must also continue to improve public transport to offer an alternative to the car.”

ippr’s report Steering Through Change: Winning the debate on road pricing recommends that the Government:

Support local schemes through Transport Innovation Funds and public transport governance reform.
Adopt road pricing as part of a package of measures to tackle congestion, including public transport improvements and ‘smart measures’ such as workplace and school travel plans.
Establish a new national stakeholder group, with an independent chair, of experts, special interest groups and critical friends to address public concerns.

Notes to Editors:

Steering Through Change: Winning the debate on road pricing and Public Opinion and Road Pricing: report from primary research by Jenny Bird and James Morris are available from the ippr press office.

ippr conducted an online opinion poll designed to be representative of people of voting age in the UK in terms of age, gender, Government Office Region and Standard Occupational Classification. A sample of 1150 people were given a description of road pricing that claimed it would replace Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Three additional samples of between 100 and 150 people were told that it would replace fuel duty, VED and fuel duty, or neither tax.

ippr held six focus groups with participants who drive everyday or nearly every day and who stated they were either 'very satisfied', 'quite satisfied' or 'neither satisfied nor dissatisfied' with their local public transport. These groups were held in Sale, Birmingham and Harlow.

ippr held three day-long deliberative workshops in Newcastle, North East Somerset and Canterbury, Kent. They involved around 15 people, recruited to be roughly representative of their local area in terms of age, class, gender, ethnicity and car use.

The Eddington Transport Study is a joint HM Treasury and Department for Transport project examining the long-term links between transport and the UK’s economic productivity, growth and stability, within the context of the Government’s broader commitment to sustainable development and the environment. The Study was announced in Budget 2005 and will report around the time of the 2006 Pre-Budget Report.
A trial congestion charging scheme was run in Stockholm from January 2006 until the end of July 2006. Improvements to public transport were also provided. The scheme reduced traffic by 20-25 per cent and queuing times by 30-50 per cent. In September 2006 a majority of 52 per cent of residents voted in a referendum to introduce congestion charging in Stockholm.

The Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) will be used to tackle congestion and to improve productivity. The TIF will provide up to £200m per year from 2008/09 until 2014/15 to support suitable demand management schemes developed by local authorities. The Department for Transport are likely to fund packages involving road pricing; they may also include improvements to public transport. Prior to the TIF, there is a pump priming fund of £18m available over three years (from 2005-2007) to help local authorities develop local road pricing schemes. Pump prime funding has been awarded to: