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Tony Blair is to send an email to the 1.5million people who signed an online petition against road pricing telling them it is "surely part of the answer".
Writing in the Observer, Mr Blair admitted he did not expect to win over critics overnight but said the petition - on the 10 Downing Street website - had provoked a useful debate.
The strength of feeling against Department for Transport plans for a national scheme reached such levels at one point that it crashed the PM's internet site.
The petition calls the policy "sinister and wrong" and warns the charge would be unfair to those who live away from their families, and poorer people
Mr Blair said it "is an opportunity not because I share the petitioners' views - I don't - but because I know the country needs to have a full debate on how we tackle road congestion and this petition has helped spark it".
He added: "Over the next few days I will be sending out a response to everyone who has signed the petition against road charging explaining the problems the country faces and why I believe road pricing is surely part of the answer here as it is in many other countries.
"I'm not kidding myself that this will change people's views overnight. I am convinced, however, that the focus on this issue that the e-petition has brought about will help improve our understanding of the problems and the realisation that there are no cost-free answers."
