The editor of a car review website is arguing for the trucking industry to pay more for the build of new roads.

Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of dogandlemon.com, said congestion charges create a class system, “one road for the rich; one road for the poor”.

“The advocates for congestion charges are selling the lie that these charges are the only practical way to fund transport infrastructure. In fact, the easiest and fairest way of collecting revenue for improved transport is to make the trucking industry pay its fair share,” he said.

“About two thirds of the cost of building new highways goes to making them strong enough for large vehicles, which are mainly trucks.

“Excluding events such as storm damage, about 80% of all road maintenance costs are the result of the damage caused by trucks.”

“Yet, the trucking industry pays just 23% of the costs of building and maintaining these highways.”

Matthew-Wilson said the government should make the trucking industry pay the full costs of the roads they use.

“We’re talking billions in uncollected revenue here, yet the government turns a blind eye to this scam, while penalising poor motorists.”