Motorways could be sponsored to fund investment

The President of the AA is suggesting motorways could be sponsored and American-style adopt-a-highway schemes should be introduced to generate investment funds and pay for things like litter collections.

The Telegraph and Press Association report that Edmund King suggests sports teams, supermarkets and tech firms could purchase naming rights for major roads.

It says the ideas are part of his proposal to change the way people are charged for driving in the UK, with the current system meaning motorists pay some of the highest taxes in Europe to use a road network that in some places is congested and deteriorating.

"The Road Miles concept, created by Mr King and his wife, business analyst Deirdre, would offer all drivers at least 3,000 free miles each year, with a small charge for further distances, in a bid to reduce non-essential journeys," the report says.  "It is one of five shortlisted entries for the £250,000 Wolfson economics prize to reduce traffic jams.

"The proposal would see fuel duty drop from 58 pence per litre to 47 pence within five years, and more than £3 billion in extra investment for roads could be generated.