ON-BOARD units (OBU) which road transport companies will use in the Slovak electronic toll collection system will also be compatible with the system of the planned European Electronic Toll Service. However, full inter-operability of the e-toll systems will require agreements to be concluded among individual EU states. SkyToll, which will operate the e-toll system in Slovakia as of January 1, 2010 estimates that this process will take several years, the SITA newswire wrote.
SkyToll said that because of Slovakia’s new satellite-based e-toll system, the country has a unique opportunity to participate in developing a unified electronic toll system across the European Union. A satellite system for toll collection will be introduced in all EU member states in the future.
“We welcome the decision of the EU and perceive it as a positive step in favour of transport operators,” said SkyToll in response to the decision of the European Commission on preparation of an inter-operability process for the toll road system in the EU. “The fact that the satellite e-toll system in Slovakia will be among the world’s most technologically advanced opens space for us to introduce the e-toll in other states of the EU.”
The decision, adopted by the EC on October 6, establishes the basic technical specifications and requirements necessary for implementation of the European Electronic Toll Service.
This service is expected to cover all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and as well as vehicles designed to transport more than nine passengers (including the driver) within three years. For all other vehicles the toll system should apply within five years.
Slovakia’s e-toll system will be launched on January 1, 2010, and will cover about 2,000 kilometres of highways and parallel first class roads.
