Small and medium-sized trucking companies in Slovakia, concerned about the increasing cost of transport, kicked off a petition campaign at petrol pumps on Monday, January 4, calling for a reduction in consumer taxes on motor fuels to offset the cost of the new electronic road toll system, the TASR newsier reported. Organised under the newly-formed Union of Truckers (UNAS), the petition committee has posted online the sites of filling stations where protests will occur, although not all of them may be involved.
“We want to have the consumer tax on motor fuels reduced in compensation for the introduction of electronic tolls, as has been the case in other countries that have introduced a toll system,” said Jaroslav Polaček who sits on the committee.
Due to high fuel taxes, drivers in Slovakia pay an average of 30 cents more for petrol and diesel than those in neighbouring countries. UNAS further wants the ministry to charge drivers only for the stretch of road that they actually use rather than for the entire length, “as GPS-GSM can make it possible”. Hauliers presented their demands to Transport Minister Ľubomír Vážny towards the end of last year but he didn't act on any of their eleven points. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
