The addition of new tolls on routes around the country would cause extensive traffic congestion on alternative roads as motorists switch to escape the levy, according to the AA.
An AA survey of over 13,000 Irish motorists shows that over 60 per cent of drivers would change their route to avoid a new toll, if one were applied.
The AA has never been in favour of tolls on Irish roads because of the diversion effect. This has been borne out by the experience of places like Fermoy, Drogheda and Kinnegad where large volumes of traffic still drive through the towns despite the existence of multi-million euro by-passes. This congestion is a significant cost to local businesses and communities.
“Tolls cause traffic to divert. This is a simple fact of life that neither the government nor the NRA can ignore,” says Director of Policy, Conor Faughnan.
“It goes against all common sense to put a toll on a by-pass. You don’t find it anywhere else in the world.”
Despite its apparent attractiveness as a revenue-raising measure, tolls are not in fact as lucrative as they seem. For example, the M50 toll raises €80 million per year but it also costs over €20 million to run the enormously complicated collection system – money that the AA says is pure waste.
“Compared to the €2.5 billion that we pay in fuel taxes it is relatively small money,” says Faughnan.
“In fact just a couple of cents of excise duty on petrol and diesel raises more money than every toll in the country combined. Considering the collateral damage that they cause, tolls just aren’t worth it.”
