Multiple Occupancy Lanes

There is talk today about multiple occupancy lanes for motorways and other roads at peak times. But would it be better to charge instead?

Consider the success of the technology used to read number plates for the London Congestion Charge. It definitely works!

So why not have gantries at the charge points, which read the number plates and add a charge. The charge itself should be infinitely variable, so that say if the peak charge is two pounds between eight and nine in the morning, but then it graduates away until ten. (If you have a sharp cut-off then people will wait and you will get jams at that time.)

As the charge is accumulated to the number plate and now many garages have the same technology, then some could automatically add your charges to your petrol bill. Obviously, you would also have the option to not pay at that time.

Unpaid fines would have to be paid on transfer of the vehicle or on retaxing.