Progress in charge levels

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Topics: Transport ,

Assessment made on 01 Oct 2003

Note: new version is available!

Generic metadata

Classification

Transport (Primary theme)

Tags:

infrastructure | freight | transport

DPSIR: Response

Identification

Indicator codes

TERM 022

Geographical coverage:

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Contents

Policy issue: Recover the full costs of transport including externalities from users

Key messages

An assessment of trends in charges for the use of infrastructure by Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) shows a downward trend in most EU Member States - except in Germany, the UK, Sweden and Denmark. This trend is undesirable as TERM indicator 25 shows that in most cases HDV charges are too low to cover marginal infrastructure and other external costs. The diesel tax is in quantitative terms still the most important instrument, but in Germany the HDV kilometre charge will also be in important means of internalisation when it will be implemented by 2004. Data on rail, shipping and air freight charges are currently insufficient for an assessment. Data on fuel taxes and tolls for ACs is hardly available and therefore, accession countries could not be included in the analysis.

Figures

Overview of trend in gap between variable charges and MEC between 1998 and 2001 - gap becomes larger; o gap stays roughly equal; + gap becomes smaller

a) Progress with distance related charges for heavy duty vehicles on highways in selected countries between 1998 and 2001 and b) structure of total charges for heavy road freight transport in selected countries in 2001. For Portugal and Ireland, no infrastructure charges are included

Key assessment

An assessment of trends in charges for the use of infrastructure by Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) shows a downward trend in most EU Member States - except in Germany, UK, Sweden and Denmark. This trend is undesirable as TERM indicator 25 shows that in most cases HDV charges are too low to cover marginal infrastructure and other external costs. The diesel tax is in quantitative terms still the most important instrument, but in Germany the HDV kilometre charge will also be in important means of internalisation when it will be implemented. Data on rail, shipping and air freight charges are currently insufficient for an assessment. Data on fuel taxes and tolls for ACs is hardly available and therefore, accession countries could not be included in the analysis.