Free-flow tolling is gradually becoming the norm on European motorways. While smoother and more modern, it also raises concerns: what about privacy, fair pricing, and customer relations? A look at this rapidly expanding technology.
In recent years, the motorway landscape has been radically changing. Gone are the toll barriers and queues. Free-flow toll collection relies on gantries equipped with cameras and sensors to identify vehicles on the fly. This model, already in place in Portugal, Norway, and Chile, is now spreading to France, with projects such as the A13 between Paris and Caen.
Free-flow tolls are gradually becoming the norm on European motorways.
A promise of fluidity… kept?
The main promise of free-flow tolling is the elimination of delays at the entrance and exit of motorways. By removing physical barriers, we promote:
– Continuity of traffic
– Reduction of polluting emissions linked to restarts
– A smoother experience for regular users
Studies in Norway have shown a decrease of 10 to 15 % in average travel time on certain sections after adoption of free flow.
But a new complexity for occasional users
However, it's not all that simple. In the absence of ticket counters, users must:
- Create an account online or via an app
- Register their license plate
- Choose a payment method in advance or adjust after the fact
However, for foreign or occasional drivers, this route can be confusing.
An invisible but technological revolution
Behind the free flow lies a sophisticated infrastructure:
- LAPI (Automatic License Plate Reading) cameras
- Multi-sensor gantries for vehicle classification
- Real-time processing servers
These devices generate millions of daily data points to be processed, secured and billed, which raises major cybersecurity issues.
The customer at the heart of the system?
The disappearance of physical contact brings with it a risk: that of a distance between the operator and the user. Hence the rise of new channels:
- Multilingual customer relationship centers
- Mobile applications and automatic terminals in the area
- SMS/email notifications of passage
The best models also include a simplified dispute interface.
What challenges lie ahead?
Among the issues still to be resolved:
- European harmonization of systems
- Processing of vehicles without plates
- Compliance with GDPR
to conclude
Free-flow tolling is a quiet but transformative revolution. For regular users, it offers unparalleled convenience. For others, it still requires educational and technological efforts. The success of this model will depend on its ability to remain inclusive, simple, and transparent.
Sources
ATEC ITS France – Smart Mobility Forum, 2024
Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Barrier-Free Flow Report 2022
European Commission – Digitalisation of Road Infrastructure, 2023
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