The ABD has received a tip-off from an industry source 1 that an expected Conservative government is considering the introduction of road pricing, and demands reassurance.
 
ABD spokesman Nigel Humphries responded:

“We are reliably informed that the Conservatives are planning to introduce tolls on motorways, certainly on new capacity and even on parts of the existing network.
This goes against common sense. Motorways are statistically amongst Britain's safest roads 2, and forcing drivers onto A-roads stands to lengthen journey times and increase driver fatigue. It's a recipe for more local congestion, more accidents and more casualties.
Introducing road pricing for freight would be bad news for family budgets if extra costs are reflected in the price of goods in the shops.
Britain's roads are literally crumbling. Taxpayers' money should be spent on bringing them up to standard not imposing yet another stealth tax on drivers.”

ABD Chairman Brian Gregory added:

“Drivers already pay around £50 billion in taxes each year 3. We have contributed around £400 billion since 1997 - enough to fund the entire health service for over three years 4. Investment in new road capacity has already been paid for several times over.
The Conservatives have so far been very quiet on most of their blueprint for transport. David Cameron needs to give a crystal-clear promise that there will be no moves towards road pricing if he is elected.”