Dutch RUC - on the way at last?

摘要

Once again, in 2008, Intertraffic Amsterdam is taking place in the capital of a country where road user charging (RUC) is at the top of the transport policy agenda. In his definitive announcement: 'We've finally made our decision', Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings expressed firm hopes that a technically-sophisticated RUC system, based on four key principles (see table 1) will start operating in the Netherlands as early as 2011 -with its charging costs restricted to 5% of total revenues. Initially, this will apply to lorries. The intention is for it then to extend in phases to cover passenger cars from 2012, and for the whole country to be covered by 2016. Six years ago, Intertraffic 2002 took place just a month after the then Dutch Government had launched its original 'kilometerheff-ing' (kilometer levy) plan for nationwide charging. By the time of Intertraffic 2004, a first-phase, regional rollout was to be well under way. By the second day of Intertraffic 2002, however, the Dutch Cabinet had resigned (for unconnected reasons). Subsequently, the kilometer-heffing concept lost headway and political consent. So what is different this time round? The scheme will, Eurlings has confirmed, have essentially the same core characteristics. It will be distance driven-based, using satellite technology. Road tax will be abolished. Road users will no longer pay sales tax on new vehicles (these were to be reduced in the earlier scheme).