This article considers the spread and the political acceptability of road and urban congestion charging across Europe. The city of London, UK, has implemented congestion charging in the centre from 2003 and other UK cities are expected to follow. Upgraded automatic toll collection systems are being developed which at some point will bring a clash with less developed systems still in place in some countries. New technology being employed includes the use of global positioning systems in distance-based road charging, although privately-operated systems being developed employ traditional dedicated short-range communications. Charging for road use is becoming more accepted through Europe. For the covering abstract see ITRD E118381.
Abstract