1.A charge on private vehicles in selected areas and at particular times of day would be a reasonable response to externalities they create.
A. Choosing to drive one’s own car or other vehicle into a city centre puts pressure on limited road space, contributes to pollution and global warming, and results in reduced mobility for all.
B. The cumulative time spent in traffic is a major economic loss.
C. Congestion charging schemes therefore levy a premium for the privilege of using a personal car, and the funds thus collected should be ploughed back exclusively into public transport options.
D. This makes them robust, affordable and sustainable.
6. A number of technologies are available to implement a congestion charging system. The challenge is to pick one that reduces transaction costs, and is sealed against revenue leakage.