by
Autonet Insurance
| Jan 25, 2012
Foreign lorry drivers may be charged £10 per day to use Britain’s Roads under new rules that will be set by the Government.
The Department of Transport will today be announcing the consultation of foreign haulage companies to pay towards the costs of maintaining Britain’s roads, something that British taxpayers and businesses already contribute to.
UK haulier companies will also be charged £10 a day as the Government cannot discriminate against UK and foreign haulage companies, but UK companies will be allowed to claim it back, either by cutting the cost of their tax disc or lowering the fuel duty they pay.
With over 1.5 million foreign lorries using UK roads, new rules may be introduced that will see hauliers carrying a box on their lorries which can be tracked by satellite to show where they are in the country or using a vignette system where lorries will display a sticker that can be scanned.
Roads Minister Mike Penning said: “Each year there are around 1.5 million trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries - but none of them pay to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill.
“A lorry road user charge would ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from - helping UK hauliers to get a fairer deal and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK.
“I want UK hauliers to get involved and respond to this consultation to make sure that the final scheme works for them - helping level the playing field with foreign hauliers, boosting their market share and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK.”
Britain is one of the countries in the EU that doesn’t currently charge foreign HGV drivers to use the roads, however UK lorry drivers have to pay a maximum of 16 Euros per day if they travel across certain areas of Europe.
More details regarding the new rules will be released later today which will give haulage companies a better understanding of what changes will be happening over the next few months.
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By Amanda Bainbridge