The Secretary of State's approval is required for all parking control devices used in conjunction with Traffic Regulation Orders to control parking places. A new system was introduced as it was thought that it would reduce the level of non-payment within the coach park. A study of this equipment was undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory to determine the effectiveness of this innovatory parking control system. A survey was originally undertaken by the Corporation of London in mid-Agust 1992 to look at coach park usage and payment. Findings from this survey established that on average only 40% of coach drivers purchased a ticket. A shortage of change in the ticket machine was identified as a contributory was identified as a contributory factor for the low level of payment and a credit card payment system was installed as a result. This has been in operation since October 1993. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the level and type of payments made by coach drivers. Data from the Corporation of London's most recent survey has also been taken into consideration. The results from the study indicated that an extremely small minority of users paid by credit card and that most coach drivers chose not to pay at all. (A)
Abstract