Tag and beacon gets green light in London

Technology that could allow the London Mayor to make motorcycles pay the congestion charge could be up and running within three years.

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Transport for London, the capital’s transport authority, said Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras – which can’t detect motorcycles because they are rear facing – could be replaced with tag and beacon systems by 2011.

The new technology relies on vehicles or users carrying electronic tags which communicate with roadside beacons. It has already been trialled in south London.

Credits loaded on the tag can be deducted when a beacon is passed, similar to the Oyster card system on London’s public transport network.    

TfL said it had been in discussions with Government about getting some of a special fund for new road pricing schemes to pay for the technology.

A spokesman said: “TfL and the Department for Transport have discussed using the Transport Innovation Fund to set up tag and beacon technology within the central London congestion charge zone.

“Trials of tag and beacon technology have been carried out by TfL in Southwark. We are only considering the practicalities of implementing this within the existing central London congestion charge zone and if this were to happen it could not be done before the end of 2010.”

He added: “We have absolutely no plans to extend the congestion charge to motorcycles.”

DVLA has completed a study into the feasibility of fitting all motorcycle number plates with electronic tags to tackle road tax evasion, but will not set a date for releasing the findings.