Petition · past parliament
Suspend all tolls because of the COVID19 crisis
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
The Government should suspend all road tolls, river crossing tolls and 'congestion charges' for at least 12 months because of the Coronavirus COCVD19 epidemic.
Where this needs additional powers then they should be sought from Parliament.
Where this needs additional powers then they should be sought from Parliament.
1. Tolls are unfair and arbitrary in where and how they are applied. They are an inefficient way of charging for the use of roads and can increase congestion and pollution.
2. In the current crisis it is important to give the economy some relief and this can be done at a relatively low cost by suspending tolls. This has already happened in China.
3. A lot of people that the UK need to carry on working are increasingly likely to have to travel to work by their own transport.
4. Many tolls are wholly or partly cash tolls. There is a relatively high risk of spreading disease because there is a quick turn around of the cash.
2. In the current crisis it is important to give the economy some relief and this can be done at a relatively low cost by suspending tolls. This has already happened in China.
3. A lot of people that the UK need to carry on working are increasingly likely to have to travel to work by their own transport.
4. Many tolls are wholly or partly cash tolls. There is a relatively high risk of spreading disease because there is a quick turn around of the cash.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
The setting of bridge and road tolls, and congestion charges, is the responsibility of local authorities in most cases and private owners in others, not the UK Government or Parliament.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can find out what broader support is available if you're struggling here:
https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can find out what broader support is available if you're struggling here:
https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Timeline
| 20 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 20 Apr 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
20 Apr 2020
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.