We may curse higher fuel taxes here in Europe but over the last 20 years they have resulted in

1. Redistribution of this tax wealth amongst the European community rather than it all going overseas to the Middle East or other exporters.
2. Europeans use roughly 50% of the energy of Americans; admittedly this is not all due to the higher fuel costs but it has modified our behaviour and led to efficiencies.
3. A cushion against raw oil-price rises

New taxation is likely to be unpopular so its introduction would have to be carefully framed in the context of the longer term benefits. It could also be framed in shorter term immediate improvement contexts to transport infrastructure such as freeways, etc. The alternative would seem to be growing trade imbalances and eventual demand destruction by price.