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Road User Fees Instead of Fuel Taxes: The Quest for Political Acceptability
Author(s) -
Duncan Denvil,
Graham John
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/puar.12045
Subject(s) - opposition (politics) , fuel tax , truck , automotive industry , politics , audit , business , alternative fuel vehicle , finance , economics , accounting , alternative fuels , law , engineering , political science , automotive engineering , aerospace engineering , revenue , diesel fuel
In light of recent regulatory changes in federal fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, the consensus forecast is that motor fuel taxes will not be an adequate source of dedicated funding for roadway maintenance and construction. This article accepts the notion that mileage fees are a promising replacement for the fuel tax and considers steps that might be taken to enhance the political acceptability of such a reform. The authors argue that simple, low‐tech ways of implementing mileage fees are possible in the near term and should be complemented by a well‐developed audit mechanism. Current trends in the automotive and auto insurance industries as well as social media are likely to reduce opposition to more technologically advanced mileage taxes in the long run .