INTERNAllONAL ITALIAN TOLLCARDS • Societa Autostrade, which runs Italy's motorways,
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is to launch a major campaign to promote sales of a plastic card that pays motorway tolls electronically.
The card is prepaid like a British Telecom phonecard, and takes 20 seconds to activate the barrier. The holder knows at any time how much value is left in the magnetic strip so that another one can be bought.
The card is proving popular with Italian drivers, and has helped to cut down the massive jams at motorway tollbooths during rush hours and in the holiday season. Last year 327,000 drivers used it compared with 237,000 in 1985.
The Italians hope that all foreign operators will use the cards. Credit cards for tolls already exist and these are to be extended to other motorway services such as fuel and food. These, however, are settled by cheque at the end of each month.
Further details on the Italian toll cards can be obtained from Autostrada SpA, via Antonio Nibby 10, 00161, Rome, or by telephoneing Rome 8477.