The government is planning trials of a satellite-based road tax
system that will track the distance travelled by drivers and charge
them for each mile.
The
Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a brief to four IT
suppliers.
They will test infrastructure that will enable authorities to
charge
road tax according to where a driver travels, how far they go
and their time of travel.
A range of technologies, which are expected to make use of the
Global Positioning System (GPS), will be under test.
The department is in the process of appointing the suppliers,
who will start working on the trials later this year.
The trials, which will be voluntary, will involve drivers in
different areas of the country.
The DfT insist this is not a trial for a national road pricing
scheme, but is intended to help local authorities who are
considering using the technology for congestion charges.
A DfT spokeswoman said, "People have legitimate concerns about a
national road pricing scheme, and until those concerns have been
addressed we won't be making any decisions."