Villagers fear road charges

By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2007-02-08

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After after decades of neglect, the UKs major road systems are suffering from severe congestion. Under road charging plans being pushed by the government, congested roads will be charged the most. It therefore inevitably follows that drivers will seek to avoid these charges by taking alternative routes along country lanes and through smaller towns and villages.

The The Association of British Drivers warns rural communities and vulnerable road users such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders to speak out now against road charging proposals before these plans are forced through. ABD policy director

Mark McArthur-Christie, ABD policy director, explained: "Road charging will be levied at its highest on the most congested roads. It will be impossible for drivers to know if a road is congested until they are on it, sitting in a traffic jam with no escape route whilst the black box in their car clocks up pound signs for the chancellor.

"Many will not wish to take the risk and will of course seek alternative routes. Unfortunately for villagers and users of quiet country lanes, these will very often be the routes they seek out causing a massive increase in traffic levels."

The ABD urges members of rural communities who may be affected to join the 650,000 who have already signed the petition against road charging at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/

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