Detra

Detra is a British government agency responsible for the collection of road user charges in England and Wales. It was established in 2000 as a result of the Road User Charging Act 1997, which aimed to reduce congestion and improve road safety. Detra's primary function is to manage the collection of charges for the use of certain roads, including the London Congestion Charge, the Highways England road charging schemes, and the Dartford Crossing Charge.

The agency operates through a combination of direct collection and indirect collection methods. Direct collection involves charging vehicles at the point of use, such as through electronic tolling systems or manual enforcement. Indirect collection, on the other hand, involves charging vehicle owners or operators based on their vehicle's registration details.

Detra is responsible for the administration of these charges, including the collection of funds, the management of the charging systems, and the enforcement of compliance. It also plays a role in the development and implementation of new road user charging schemes.

Detra's operations are overseen by a board of directors, who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport. The agency is funded through the charges it collects, as well as through grants from the Department for Transport. Its headquarters are located in Swindon, Wiltshire.