Is it the end of the road for road pricing?
Is it the end of the road for road pricing? Two thirds of motorists say that they would not use proposed high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, according to the AA president addressing The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) seminar on road pricing today.
The new survey1 showed 65% of 7,380 AA Populus panel members said they would not use HOT lanes. Conversely 28% said they would use the lanes on occasions and 3% said they would use them all the time.
Raised speed limit
Even if they had the option to use the lane when in a hurry and the speed limit was raised to 80mph, only 35% would but 51% would still not use it out of principle.
These lanes, in which car sharers go free or those alone pay a small toll, were proposed by former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly when she published Roads – ‘Delivering Choice and Reliability’ in July2. The Government and new Transport Secretary, Geoffrey Hoon are looking at taking these plans forward.
In April 2008 AA Populus panel members were asked whether they supported the principle of HOT lanes and 58% were opposed (17,400 responses April 2008). This latest research was carried out to explore in more detail motorists’ attitudes to HOT lanes.
Regional variation
Drivers in London and those in the North West said they were most likely to use these lanes (37% and 34% respectively) whilst those in Yorkshire and Humberside were least likely to (25%).
In a hurry
Panel members were also asked if they would pay to use a HOT lane when in a hurry and if the speed limit was set at 80mph rather than 70mph – panel members were still reluctant with only 35% saying that they would use them. Those in the 18-34 age category (45%) and drivers in London (57%) were most likely to say they would use the lanes in these circumstances.
Safety concerns
The proposal for having a higher speed limit in a HOT lane is not a firm one from the government but AA Populus panel members were in no doubt that there would be some safety concerns with 64% either somewhat (21%) or strongly (43%) agree that this sounded like a dangerous idea.
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