The use of low technology methods of road pricing as ameans of making the application of ITS politically feasible

摘要

High technology methods of road pricing are beginning to reach the stage of implementationworld-wide, although some authorities are proceeding more cautiously, using both a highspeed electronic system and manned tollgates. The paper reviews the main differencesbetween high technology and low systems in terms of precision in regulating congestion, therisks entailed if any new scheme has to be aborted, due to technical problems or politicalresistance, scope for evasion of the tolls by an unsympathetic public, or by wrongly claimedexemptions from charging, and user confidence. A sceptical public may wish to keep theoption of making single cash purchases if it has anything less than total confidence incontactless smart cards. There are variations in attitudes towards road pricing in differentcultures and even between different countries within Europe. The paper considers the variousinfluences upon government policy formulation and will attempt to draw conclusions fromworld-wide examples as to whether a low technology plan is a necessary stage before theintroduction of an advanced technology road pricing scheme.