Since the inception of the European Union in 1993, politicians in the EU have been spouting off about the advantages of a “unified Europe,” claiming that it would bring all of its member states under one economic system with one currency, allowing them to act cooperatively for the “greater good.”
Of the many advantages touted to be included in the EU was the ability to travel freely between member states with no passports, unfortunately one crucial system that was not unified was the toll system.
Because the member states of the EU have been left to implement their own system to collect toll fares, this has left traveling between countries difficult and often expensive, which is why EU is planning to implement the European Electronic Toll Service.
Some of the costs incurred by having multiple different toll systems is the requirement for truck drivers to have several different electronics systems on-board, specifically for those using E-ZPass type systems.
The problem here is that certain countries, choosing not to cooperate, would consider a motorcycle a car simply for toll purposes, while other countries properly distinguish them as motorcycles.
Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, and Poland have decided they are going to be set the example and be the first to implement an electronic pass system to ease travel across their borders.
According to a report on the Government of the Netherlands website, EETS went into effect for trucks and cargo vehicles in 2012 and is scheduled to take effect for most other vehicles on Oct. 8 of this year. If you wish to read the EU document in it’s entirety, it can be found here.
Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane
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