ROAD tolls in London will lead to a dramatic change in company car drivers' travel habits, according to the Lex Vehicle Leasing 2000 Report on Company Motoring. London mayor Ken Livingstone plans to introduce a £5 toll in central London and the report suggests that 36% of company car drivers would change their travel habits if the idea became a reality.

If the toll charge was doubled to £10 the report suggests that 48% of company car drivers would change their travel habits. However, Board of Transport for London member Steven Norris predicted that Livingstone's charging scheme for the capital would be shelved. And, he said he did not believe the report's conclusion that company car drivers would change habits. Norris said: 'If they are on company business the instruction will be to pay the charge. If they are on private business they make a choice.'

But, he added: 'I don't think the London scheme is workable and I don't think it will happen.' Norris suggested that drivers making multi-stop journeys across the capital in and out of toll zones would oppose charging; drivers would circumnavigate the toll area so congestion and vehicle pollution would be moved 'one block up' and road tolls were a regressive tax as the wealthy would pay while the poor would be hit hardest. Instead, he suggested the key to solving the capital's transport crisis was a public/private partnership based around improved rail and bus services.