They have been the scourge of motorists worldwide, but now it may not feel quite so frustrating to toss coins into an electronic road pricing (ERP) system as they take on a more environmental outlook.
The Netherlands is hoping to introduce tolls that bill motorists based on the amount of pollution their vehicles emit into the atmosphere. It is hoped that this will encourage drivers to opt for greener cars and help ease global warming.
Under the new system, vehicles will be charged based on both the distance they travel and the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Therefore drivers with gas-guzzling SUVs will pay considerably more than those with smaller, greener cars.
Singapore too is looking to make its own advancements with a satellite-based system that can track cars and charge them based on the distance they travel.
The Dutch ERP system is set to be introduced in 2011 for lorries and will be phased in for cars from 2012-2016.
