The government is planning to replace road tax and petrol duty with road charging. Here is an outline of the key points of Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's plan:Each driver would be charged for every mile of his or her journey. Prices would start from as little as 2p a mile on quiet roads outside rush hours. The maximum price would be �1.34 a mile on busy motorways like the M25 at peak times. Current charges of fuel tax and road tax would be scrapped. A pilot scheme covering a region or large conurbation could be operating "within five years". If all goes well a nationwide scheme could be rolled out within 10 years. A Department for Transport (DfT) feasibility study concluded last year that a national scheme had the potential to cut congestion by about 40% with "only 4% less cars using the roads". The increasing use of satellite navigation kits in cars will be utilised, Mr Darling said. He wants a decision on whether or not road pricing should be implemented "during the course of this parliament". Mr Darling said new technology was already being used to "better manage roadspace" - for example a new system of "traffic management " on the M42. He highlighted an insurance company's decision to pilot a pay as you drive car insurance which makes use of a satellite box in the car.
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