The lorry levy has exceeded expectations
More than 618,000 levies have been bought for over 112,000 lorries from 76 countries since the HGV road user levy was introduced in April.
The Department for Transport has released information that foreign truck drivers have been levied for more than £17 million since its inception four months ago.
The DFT were quick to point out that that money could patch up 320,000 potholes, fund 3,400 extra electric car grants or maintain and power 170,000 for street lighting for a year but whether all of that money will actually be invested in those things remains to be seen, I wouldn’t exactly hold my breath.
Roadside checks have seen DVSA enforcement officers issue over 850 fixed penalty notices to drivers who have not paid the levy – resulting in fines worth more than £250,000.
Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “We anticipated the levy would generate around £20 million a year – to take £17 million in just four months is impressive and shows that compliance has remained high since introduction.
“Before the levy was introduced we had a ridiculous situation where foreign HGV drivers could fill up their tanks on the continent, pick up business in the UK and return to the mainland without even buying fuel here – without giving a penny to help maintain our roads […] I’m glad to see this levy has addressed that imbalance.”
The levy is part of the coalition’s promise of a fairer deal for UK hauliers, which includes cutting the duty paid on standard diesel to less than it was in October 2010 and freezing HGV vehicle excise duty during this Parliament.
