USA: New road-usage fee proposed to make drivers pay for per-mile drive

The pay-per-mile system would initially be an option but will become a statewide requirement by 2030.

According to a media report, because electric vehicle owners don't pay the gas tax, the state of Washington, USA, is mulling the idea of a new road usage fee for vehicle owners.

As per the new proposal, the state will do away with the gas tax, which currently costs 49.4 cents per gallon, and instead replace it with a pay-per-mile system. This new system will have vehicle owners paying two & half cents per mile driven. As Americans drive 13,500 miles on average, that adds to a total cost of $337 per year. This amount is equivalent to paying gas tax for 343 gallons of petrol in a year. Reports also state that the pay-per-mile system would initially be an option but will become a statewide requirement by 2030.

However, the proposal has been considered a bit unfair, as drivers with fuel-efficient cars will end up paying a higher fee; while owners of fuel guzzlers will pay less.

Source: Jalopnik