Automobile Association speaks out on new e-toll proposal
The burden e-tolls pose for motorists is still on everyone's lips and it seems that a solution to this problem will not be found soon.
ALBERTON – A press release by the Automobile Association (AA) stated that the new dispensation for e-tolls, announced by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, is an opportunity missed in dealing once and for all with an unnecessarily burdensome funding model.
“We believe these new measures will add to an increase in traffic on alternative routes in the province, and may also lead to many more unlicensed vehicles, when drivers do not renew their licences, because they cannot afford to pay outstanding e-toll accounts, or simply refuse to do so in protest.
“Another issue is that these proposals may lead to an increase in corruption,” the AA said.
They also said several questions remain unanswered. Among these is whether motorists who have been paying e-tolls until now qualify for a 60 per cent rebate on what they’ve already paid.
The AA maintains that ring-fencing a portion of the fuel levy is still the best funding model for e-tolls, as the cost is not amplified by administration and collection costs.
“We want to make it clear that the funding of roads is not the issue; roads must be built and maintained and money from the fiscus needs to be used for this purpose. The real issue, we believe, is the mechanism chosen to fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), which hikes the costs unnecessarily,” the association added.
The association said that, whatever the reduced toll fee is, or whether or not it is subsidised by government, it is still a needlessly inflated price that places the burden of costs on motorists and the South African taxpayer.
“This was the ideal time for government to intervene and scrap this system, but it is an opportunity the government has squandered by introducing another funding model that does not address the real issues,” the AA explained.
