M6toll put price hold on saver products to encourage local journeys
The M6toll is to freeze prices on its various local Savers products as part of its aim to help alleviate congestion on local routes by encouraging more drivers to use the toll road for short journeys.
The price hold comes in the midst of a post-pandemic bounce back in traffic volumes across the UK. Recent data from the M6toll shows a 19.7 per cent increase in vans and HGVs using the road from August to October compared to the same period in 2019 prior to the pandemic, a significant indicator of the economic recovery in the region.
As traffic volumes increase on the M6toll, so do traffic numbers on the M6 and other local routes, with motorists using those local routes also suffering the inconvenience of increased congestion. The price hold on M6toll Saver products gives motorists the opportunity to avoid that congestion, while in turn helping to ease traffic numbers on those local routes over the festive period.
Those Saver products eligible for the price hold include FlexiPass, a discounted ticket for short, local journeys. Launched in January 2021, FlexiPass offers ten pre-paid journeys for £2.90 each. Trips are linked to a pre-paid online account via ANPR in-lane technology, so there 's no need to stop at the plaza to pay by card.
The price hold also applies to Hopper, Shuttle and FlexiVan products, all designed for local car and van drivers regularly using T-junctions 4, 5 or 6. The Hopper is also currently available for £19.50, as part of a half price trial promotion on this product. Additionally, for trips outside of the relevant Savers junctions customers also receive a 5 per cent discount.
As part of the new pricing structure, there will be a 10p rise for cars at mainline and local junction plazas, a 20p increase for vans and a 30p increase for HGVs using the road. The price changes will come into effect from 16 February.
Julie Davies, commercial director at Midland Expressway Ltd said: “The Saver products, such as FlexiPass and FlexiVan, are designed to encourage more car and van drivers to switch their local journeys onto the M6toll, so they can avoid local traffic hotspots and busy routes.
“With that in mind, we have made the decision to put a price hold on our popular Saver products to encourage more regular use of the M6toll for short, local journeys. As traffic volumes return to pre-pandemic levels and the festive period brings increased congestion, drivers using the M6toll can enjoy a seamless, hassle-free alternative to the build-up of traffic on local roads, further enhanced by the digital infrastructure we have in place for online accounts.
“The importance of keeping pace with technology has been recognised by the Government, with their recent changes to the new mobile phoning driving laws. While the laws on using a mobile phone when driving have been rightly tightened, an exemption to allow drivers on the M6toll to make contactless payments while stationary at road tolls has been included and is welcomed.
“This syncs well with M6toll 's own 'Road Ahead ' digital transformation programme, designed to deliver more seamless, hassle free, efficient journeys, with our recent FlexiPass ANPR trial a good example of this. It all forms part of the M6toll 's ongoing commitment to developing products, offers and incentives that provide extra flexibility, convenience and value to those using the M6toll road. ”
The FlexiPass ANPR trial, which is part of the M6toll 's 'Road Ahead ' transformation programme, was launched in October. It benefits drivers by automatically recognising their number plate and providing discounted rates for 10 pre-paid trips between T4 T5, and T6 junctions around Lichfield, Burntwood, Shenstone and Tamworth. All payments are managed virtually in an online account, so there 's no need to stop to pay at the plazas.
Initially the offer will be available to just 200 local motorists as the M6toll seeks their feedback, followed by a staged roll-out expected to start next year.
For more information of M6toll pricing visit: https://www.m6toll.co.uk/our-prices-are-changing/