Germans lead way to EU toll
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by Karen Miles MI Fears of a uniform system of electronic tolls across Europe within four years look set to be fulfilled as the Germans take on the European Union presidency with hi-tech road pricing schemes a priority on their agenda.
By the end of their presidency in December, it is expected that the Germans will have announced a target date for EU governments to introduce common electronic road charging method on motorways.
The speed of the developments will be aided by the French, who have agreed a joint approach with the Germans to promote common policy. They take over the rotating sixmonth presidency on 1 January next year.
The German enthusiasm for hi-tech tolls follows the decision to force operators travelling through Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg to pay for road use with a certificate system (CM 23-29 June). Motorway tolls could cover EU by 1998. But this system is regarded by the German authorities as a "steam age" step to full electronic road pricing.
Currently there is an electronic toll trial of seven manufacturers' systems on the autobahn between Bonn and Cologne.
The EU plans would feed off the toll technology being researched by the European Commission and industry-funded DRIVE project.
The initiative to speed up the use of electronic tolls is likely to be encouraged by the EU's other cashstrapped governments grappling with the problem of over-crowded roads.
Transport Secretary John MacGregor supports the introduction of tolls on British motorways by 1998 (CM 28 April-4 May).