It is expected that 70% of business drivers will drive fewer private kilometers with a transition to a variable addition that is determined by the number of kilometers driven. This is apparent from a pilot commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Mobility Alliance. 80% of the respondents who now pay a fixed addition are neutral or positive about a variable addition. The pilot was carried out by the Association of Business Drivers (VZR) and follows from the current coalition agreement in which it has been agreed that the cabinet, together with the Mobility Alliance, will gain experience with alternative forms of transport and payment.
The aim is to increase the freedom of choice, so that mobility is better spread out so that the available capacity on the road and in public transport is used better and there is more freedom of movement. The pilot consists of two parts; a practical part and simulation. In the first phase of the pilot, a physical test was conducted among 112 business drivers. In the second phase, the results were tested among 1.800 respondents.
Fewer private kilometers
In the current tax system, business drivers pay a “fixed fixed addition” per month for private use. In the pilot, this fixed addition was abandoned and replaced by a variable amount based on private kilometers driven. It is expected that 70% of business drivers will make fewer private kilometers with a variable addition. Translated into practice, this leads to a potential saving of 15% fewer private kilometers driven by the business car. With a total of 1,5 million business drivers on Dutch roads, this means a saving of 1,2 billion kilometers per year. For that potential saving, 33% will opt for an alternative mode of transport. For example, 20% think they will use their bicycle more often and 6% will use public transport more. A small group expects that the other car in the family will then be driven more.
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating. This pilot shows that steering on the behavior of motorists is possible through a price incentive. In this pilot, this price incentive leads to fewer private kilometers and other transport choices. We argue for more research, but this pilot will contribute to a well-considered and widely supported system of payment according to use in the future. After all, the user pays from possession to use, which also creates a price incentive to make other transport choices."
Support among business drivers
Based on the research results, 60% of the business lease drivers who now pay additional tax liability would be positive about a variable addition; 20% is neutral. Jan van Delft, chairman of the VZR that conducted the pilot: “These results seem to indicate a growing support for this system among business drivers. We would like to investigate this further.” For the introduction of a variable addition, a reliable and conclusive journey registration system is indispensable. Extensive practical experience has already been gained with systems that fall under the Quality Mark Ritregistratie Systems; an initiative of the VZR, Branche Association of Suppliers Ritregistratiesystemen (BVLR) and the RAI Association.
Investments in mobility
Successful introduction of pay according to use benefits from sufficiently attractive transport alternatives such as public transport and two-wheelers. The Mobility Alliance is therefore arguing for an additional investment of 3 billion a year in mobility. To this end, it recently presented a 7-point plan to adequately safeguard mobility in a next coalition agreement, according to Royal RAI Association.
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