London C-Charge smart tagging and tracking trial extended

500 vehicles to test 'tag and beacon' tech in the New Year

Transport for London (TfL) is set to extend the trial of road toll-style car-tracking tags that could be used to deduct the Congestion Charge fee automatically from motorists driving into the centre of London.

The 'tag and beacon' system works by fitting smart tags to vehicles which are monitored when a motorist drives past one of the beacons.

TfL is investigating the use of the technology as a supplement to the existing automatic number plate recognition CCTV enforcement system and the tags would work as pre-pay cards with the correct congestion charge fee deducted automatically from a motorist's account.

TfL completed a small-scale trial involving two beacons and 10 vehicles earlier this year and is now setting up a mini tag and beacon zone in Southwark with 500 volunteer vehicles fitted with tags that will be tracked by 20 beacons fitted on poles.

A spokesman for TfL told silicon.com: "What we are doing now is a technology trial. It's about checking the pre-pay account system and it will run for about four months until summer."

No firm decision has yet been taken on the future use of the tracking technology across the whole Congestion Charge zone but TfL said if the trials are successful then it may be included as a requirement when the current contract, held by Capita, is retendered in 2009.

Click here to view the photos of when silicon.com was granted exclusive access to the high-tech control centre behind the Congestion Charge earlier this year.