Govt mulls ‘road tax’ for heavy goods vehicles

The government is contemplating a programme to make owners of heavy-duty vehicles contribute to the cost of maintaining the roads they wear out and tear up.

The Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) is expected to play a key role in implementing any new accountability measures for heavy goods vehicle operators, according to Prime Minister Mia Mottley. No specific timeline or details of the proposed programme were provided during the latest Parish Speaks town hall meeting where it was announced.

Speaking at the Christ Church Foundation School on Wednesday night, Mottley suggested that these vehicles are significantly affecting the durability of the island’s roads.

Responding to a resident’s complaint about the state of roads in Christ Church, Mottley said: “We are going to have to agree on those roads that are suitable for heavy-duty traffic because not every road is suitable for heavy-duty traffic.”

Proposing a new mechanism to address the issue, she said: “[There must] be a mechanism to pay for the wear and tear of the heavier vehicles because the heavier vehicles are earning heavier money too. And the heavier money must help contribute to the maintenance of the roads in a way that if they are having a disproportionate impact on the state of the road, then MTW needs to find a way of holding them accountable,” she stated.

Mottley also expressed concern about the contents of heavy-duty vehicles spilling onto roads, specifically mentioning cement droppings as an issue that needs to be addressed.

The four-hour town hall meeting saw Christ Church parishioners raising various issues. In addition to road conditions, residents voiced concerns about drainage problems, environmental issues, the slow process of certain civil lawsuits, and the behaviour of some public sector vehicle operators. 

(SZB)