Examining the Attitudes, Pro-Social Value Orientations and Social Norms of Older People to Road Pricing

This study is set to investigate the relationship between older age and the acceptability of road pricing. Specifically, it examines the attitudes of the people aged 60 and over to road pricing in comparison with the attitudes of younger people using relevant literature review findings, secondary data analysis and the results of a questionnaire and three group discussions. Moreover, this research examines whether older people’s support for what is positively valued for society affects these attitudes. Older people are more likely to express positive or negative opinions about road pricing depending on whether they believe it would be good or bad for others, or society. The influence that family, friends or others in general may have on people’s beliefs about road pricing is another subject that is examined. By looking into these issues this work highlights some of the potential opportunities and problems in the present context of the acceptability of road pricing. This will hopefully help policy-makers to decide on actual design criteria and consultation mechanisms that could assist in promoting and communicating better road pricing to older people, making it publicly and therefore politically more acceptable.