Thursday, 23rd February 2012

ITS (UK) 2012 Road User Charging Conference

ROAD USER CHARGING – INVESTING IN ECONOMIC GROWTH

Government budgets are reducing but the efficient use of road capacity is increasingly important for future prosperity. The view of the Department for Transport is clear: “Our vision is for a transport system that is an engine for economic growth, but one that is also greener and safer and improves quality of life in our communities.”The currently necessary cutbacks in funds for road improvement and maintenance lead to an increasing backlog, and to pressure for even higher investment in future. A reduced tax take from fuel, despite increasing demand for personal mobility and movement of goods, results in mounting congestion and even less freedom for action. Resources are low for initiatives at local level. In such conditions, road pricing offers a fair and equitable approach within a balanced and considered set of economic measures.Similar economic problems are seen across Europe, where road pricing policies are designed to fulfil diverse needs. A common factor is the ‘user pays’ principle, to address funding, congestion and environmental challenges at local and national levels. Taxation reform can maintain a flow of funding to maintain vital infrastructure. The planned UK HGV charging scheme is a step in this direction.The fifth annual RUC Interest Group conference provides a forum to look at the intelligent application of technology, to identify best practice and help solve the economic challenges central to our future well-being.

Chairmen:         Keith Mortimer, Wyeval Consulting Chairman of the ITS (UK) RUC Interest Group and Dr John Walker, Uni. of Southampton Hon. Secretary of the ITS (UK) RUC Interest Group

Draft Programme

  • Keynote address – Keeping the nation moving:  time to face the facts - Prof. Stephen Glaister, Director, RAC Foundation for Motoring
  • The Belgian Road Pricing project - Per Posma, Project Manager, Belgian Ministry of Finance
  • ITS Ireland activities and overview of Irish tolling scene - John Davis, ITS Ireland
  • Update on the DfT HGV RUC scheme - Nick Denton, Divisional Manager, Freight Policy and Lorry Charging, Department for Transport
  • Replacement  of UK vehicle taxes- Andrew Leicester, Institute for Fiscal Studies
  • Reverse-engineering Road Pricing: A proposal for a more intelligent fuel duty- Phil Carey
  • M6 toll case study -The case for contactless cards- Colin Mabey, M6 Toll
  • Attitudes of freight companies to Road Pricing: A Bristol case study- Colin Bird, University of the West of England
  • The French Ecotaxe lorry charging scheme – H-P Bequart & Antoine Caput, Thales 
  • Next generation tolling technology and getting the Toll Collect system “EETS ready” (title tbc) – Daniel Scholz, VITRONIC GmBH

Programme and booking form can be collected here

This event is supported by AGES International