IMPACT OF TOLL POLICY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The role that tolls played in the early growth of the road system is discussed and lessons that may be learned from this are considered. current official policy with respect to existing tolled facilities is examined. Attention is particularly focused on the financial problems that have arisen because of the presently favored 'accountancy' approach to tolling and cost recovery. Some evidence is also offered that there are effects on industrial location and traffic patterns when only specific links in the road network are subjected to tolls. The main conclusion of this work is that there are serious problems in initiating ill-thought-out toll policies.