Drivers will soon have the option of paying a toll to drive in the fast lane or hard shoulder of the UK’s busiest motorways. Extra lanes will be made available to enable drivers to opt to use a toll lane on the motorway.
The extra lane will be taken from the hard shoulder or will be added to the most over congested motorways. The toll will apply to all drivers with the exception of those travelling with at least one passenger who may be allowed free access at certain times of the day.
Drivers will use pre-pay tags on display in windscreens that can be picked up from overhead CCTV cameras, similar to those used for congestion charging.
The cost has not yet been decided but in the USA where this system is already in place, the charge is equivalent to about £5.
The motorways that are likely to be picked out to participate are: parts of the MI, M4, M3, M5, M6, M20, M23 and M62. Plans to abandon the widening of these roads in favour of the tolls will save the highways agency in the region of £1 billion.
Heads of business welcomed the announcement whilst expressing concern that use of the hard shoulder would not be as beneficial as widening the road in the long term.
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