Roads, reality and the customer

This paper reviews current transport policy in the UK considering in particular the importance of the road network and the power of the customer in making choices. The context is set by looking at the relationship between transport and society and the importance given to transport by people as customers. The growth in the demand for transport is discussed and the importance of the car is recognized. The resulting transport problem is described together with the Government's Transport White Paper. The policies to manage demand and encourage a transfer of mode are looked at in detail but the conclusion is that while such policies are justified, they will only have a limited impact due primarily to customers exercising choice. The paper concludes that the current policy is a high-risk strategy that is likely to be unsustainable unless provision is made for increasing road and rail capacity and more attention is paid to understanding the needs of the customer.