Carriers in Slovakia to Switch to the New Toll System
The toll is one of the infrastructure systems in Slovakia that are going to be changed into newer, more efficient ones. The Slovakia National Motorway Company (NDS) has been working on the transition to the new toll system for several years. One of the most important changes will be joining the international tolling system, as the service will bring borderless tolls to carriers.
The 2023 Scenario
In addition to the fact that carriers will be able to switch to an EETS provider of their choice next year, the current toll system will also be put out of operation gradually. The current toll collector will fully provide the service until the end of June 2023. After July 1, 2023, it will be no longer possible for the SkyToll company to provide new on-board units and to register new clients. Carriers who have already had an on-board unit from this company can still use it for toll collection until the end of 2023.
What will happen in 2024?
After January 1, 2024, the service of the national toll service provider in Slovakia will be provided by a different, new company that will emerge from a public tender. Carriers will be able to choose between EETS providers and the national toll service provider, which is currently being selected by the state through a transparent public tender. The carrier will be free to choose. It is expected that their choice will be affected mainly by various benefits offered by the EETS providers, or the fact where the particular EETS provider operates.
“Carriers do not have to get stressed with switching to the new system or with having to change the on-board units used at Christmas time. Carriers can look forward to alternatives to the current toll collector in the form of new EETS European toll providers, which will be added from December. The nearest milestone which car carriers should start to prepare for is July 1, 2023, when the process of gradual putting of the old system out of operation should begin, mainly the registration of new clients, however, the old OBU units will still be fully operational. After that date, new carriers who want to use the defined road sections will have to register with one of the accredited EETS providers” explains Jaroslav Ivanco – Vice Chairman of the Board, Charging and IT Section Director and Toll Office Section Director of NDS.
International toll is a synonym for driving without borders
The National Motorway Company (NDS) has taken a fundamental step. It has launched a test environment for EETS providers. It is one of the first activities that will bring potential European toll collectors one step closer to accreditation in the Slovak toll market. EETS is an abbreviation for the European Electronic Toll Service - Slovakia is going to join this international system soon. It is a big step towards allowing carriers to enjoy tolls without borders.
Slovakia will finally join the ranks of other European countries with a significantly liberalised toll collection system. This innovation will bring several advantages for carriers. Greater competition in the toll market goes hand in hand with better services for carriers. In addition, the state will pay significantly lower commissions to EETS providers than to the current toll collector.
How and what are EETS providers going to test?
Established EETS providers interested in expanding their portfolio of the countries where they provide toll collection service can test their on-board units from the beginning of October this year. They can check the settings and the method of communication with the charging system, sending the data necessary for toll calculation and feedback or confirmations in the test development environment. In layman's terms, EETS providers can check whether their on-board units are compatible with the Slovak system. As a result, they can also start fulfilling the first technical prescriptions, which they will later commit to by signing a contract with NDS.
The first important milestone as early as December 2022
NDS is going to launch the EETS application for EETS providers for live operation of the toll collection system in December 2022. That means that EETS providers will now be able to start making contracts with clients - carriers. It can be assumed that it will be in their competitive interest to get accredited and thus be able to provide the service in Slovakia as soon as possible. The exact date of the start of live operation of particular EETS providers depends on the level and speed of their implementation.
Which of the European providers will come to Slovakia?
Six established providers have expressed their interest in providing the international toll collection service here so far - the Italian Telepass, the Czech companies Itis Holding and Eurowag, the German Toll4Europe and Tolltickets and the French TotalEnergies.
"EETS providers will expand the portfolio of the companies providing toll collection in Slovakia. Their operation has several positives both for carriers and for the state. The carriers will be able to pay tolls through a single on-board unit based on a single contract with a single service provider within all EU countries where the EETS provider which they have entered into a contract with operates. The fact that the toll collection parameters will not change is also important - the rates and range of tolled roads will remain the same. For the state, participation in international toll collection means money saving, as the EETS providers´ commission will be lower compared to the current system."
Jaroslav Ivanco: By the international toll we increase the comfort of carriers
Jaroslav Ivanco holds the position of the Vice-Chairman of the Board, Charging and IT Section Director and Toll Office Section Director in the Slovak National Motorway Company. He is currently facing the biggest challenge in his career – to build a new borderless toll system.
The National Motorway Company has launched a test environment for EETS providers since the beginning of October. This is one of the first activities in the providers´ accreditation on the Slovak toll market. EETS is an abbreviation for the European Electronic Toll Service - Slovakia is going to join this international system soon and bring borderless tolls to carriers. “Thanks to testing, providers will be able to check whether and to what extent their on-board units are compatible with the Slovak system. In this way, we want to offer them the opportunity to understand the difficulty of the project of their implementation better and define the associated costs more precisely,” says Jaroslav Ivanco, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and IT and Charging Section Director at the National Motorway Company.
How will tolls work in Slovakia after January 1, 2023?
"As for carriers, there will be no change to the tolls. They don't have to get stressed whether they need a new operating unit or not. The system is going to change only in the background then. The carrier can look forward to the addition of alternatives - new European toll providers from December.
The basic change is therefore the stage of extending the toll collection service by international tolls as a completely new alternative, and the arrival of large European EETS providers along with it. That's a technical level. For the carrier, this effectively means that new on-board units will be added to the toll collection system from January. The final stage, which will follow the end of the tender for a new national provider, is the possibility of using the unit of the Toll Office.”
A new workplace is to be created for the electronic toll collection system under the new conditions, currently still part of NDS - the Toll Office. How will it work, what will be its role?
“Its task will be to operate the toll collection systems, the system of both the International toll and the national toll. It should work throughout Slovakia. The intention is to have 2 headquarters - one in the east and the other in the west of the country.”
EETS – the International toll system. How does it work?
"It is a new service that will be provided in Slovakia in parallel with the national toll. Thanks to the service international transport will get smoother, the obligation to have an OBU for each country separately will be eliminated, and generally the comfort of carriers will increase.”
A technical question - an OBU unit changes into an OBE unit, what does that mean?
“The main difference between the two technical devices is the possibility of their use in different toll systems. The OBE (On BoardEquipment) allows the motorist to cross different EU countries with no need for an additional on-board unit for toll collection. The OBE will ensure the communication and sending vehicle location data necessary for toll calculation in all countries with EETS.”
You have launched a test run for EETS operators. What will it look like?
"As part of the EETS provider's registration process in the Slovak toll system, they were given access to the development environment in which they will be able to check the settings and technical requirements of the Slovak system. In this way, we want to offer them the opportunity to understand the difficulty of the project of their implementation better and define the associated costs more precisely.”
YOURS Launches the Policymakers Toolkit – Youth and Policy For Road Safety
YOURS - Youth for Road Safety is a global organisation that acts to make the world's roads safe for youth. YOURS believes that young people have the right to be adequately informed, consulted, and empowered on road safety. We believe in youth and their vital role in helping save lives on the world's roads, since road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults worldwide.
YOURS has developed a toolkit, with the support of the FIA Foundation, to offer the road safety community and policymakers evidence-based best practices to systematically integrate meaningful youth participation into policy design, implementation, delivery and accountability for road safety and sustainable mobility.
This advocacy tool is designed to support the implementation of the Global Plan, by promoting the meaningful participation of young people, as equal stakeholders.
“Meaningful youth participation means that young people’s experiences, ideas, expertise, and perspectives are systematically integrated into programmatic, policy and decision-making institutions” - Policymakers’ Toolkit.
If you would like to know more, visit the Policymakers toolkit page or get in touch with Stefania Minniti, Advocacy Director stefania@youthforroadsafety.org.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2022
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was started by RoadPeace in 1993. In 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global day to be observed every third Sunday in November each year, as the “appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic injuries and their families”. Since then, victims’ and other civil society organisations, including the International Road Federation (IRF), national and local governments, and the international road safety community have been marking this day in countries worldwide.
The World Day of Remembrance provides a global platform to remember those killed or seriously injured, draw attention to the need for a more appropriate and just post-crash response for road traffic victims and their families, and call for accelerated action on road safety to save lives.
In recent years, WHO has hosted - in coordination with the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) a virtual Global Commemoration for the World Day of Remembrance under the theme “Remember. Support. Act”. Held on 18 November 2022, this year’s edition featured statements from the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros and other dignitaries from the UN and civil society, testimonials from bereaved mothers from Ireland and Nigeria, and an artistic intervention in two parts. A recording of the event is available here, in case you missed it.
Together with the other members of UNRSC, IRF joined the movement and supported the World day of Remembrance to honour road traffic victims and their bereaved families.
Remember those who died. Support those who survived. Act to save lives.
Leading Organisations in the Road Sector Release a Joint Statement for COP27
The 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) was hosted this year on 6-18 November in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt. The objective was to accelerate global climate action through emissions’ reduction, scaled-up adaptation efforts, and enhanced flows of appropriate finance able to ensure a ‘just transition’.
Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals depends on efficient multi-modal transport systems and services where roads play a central role. Effective road transport, road networks, tunnels and bridges, and the associated services are thus essential to ensure the sustainable mobility of people and goods and to ensure we leave no one behind.
In this context, the International Road Federation together with the European Association of Tollway Operators (ASECAP), ERTICO, the European Union Road Federation (ERF) the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the African Road Maintenance Funds Administration (ARMFA), and the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES), leading organisations in the road sector, published a joint statement to restate the sector’s firm commitment to effectively reduce CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement.
“We need to embrace system thinking and decarbonise without compromising the services we provide and without undermining a network (roads, tunnels and bridges) that serves all other transport modes, including active mobility and mass transport” commented IRF President, Anouar Benazzouz.
Road Safety and Youth: the VIA Creative International Competition
Every year, more than 270,000 pedestrians lose their lives on roads around the world. Millions more are injured in traffic-related crashes while walking. Most pedestrian collisions occur when pedestrians cross the road. Of all the people under 18 injured or killed on the world’s roads each year, 38% are pedestrians. Most of these accidents happen on our way to school, and they can be avoided.
As part of its international VIA programme, TotalEnergies Foundation is offering young people in schools or youth organisations the opportunity to raise awareness and educate their peers about safe mobility.
The international VIA Creative competition allows young people to express their ideas and send a message of prevention to those around them. The 2022 edition of the VIA Creative competition focuses on the theme of pedestrian safety: “Walking to school safely”.
IRF Director General, Susanna Zammataro, was part of the jury of the regional finals held on 19 October 2022.
The winning group becomes the TotalEnergies Foundation ambassador for safe mobility among young people. The winner is also invited to Paris by the TotalEnergies Foundation to participate in educational activities on the theme of safe mobility and in cultural activities.
The VIA programme and the VIA Creative competition are currently deployed in 35 countries, reaching more than 270,000 young people.
Discover the winning team and learn more about the VIA Programme here: https://www.programme-via.com/
Road Sharing in Europe: Uneasy Cohabitation by Users
The VINCI Autoroutes Foundation has published the results of a unique study on “Sharing the road”. Like the Baromètre de la conduite responsable (Responsible Driving Barometer), this Ipsos-conducted survey offers an overview of the behaviour of Europeans dealing with the coexistence of different modes of transport; this includes drivers of cars and motorised two-wheelers, cyclists, users of personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) and pedestrians.
How do they feel while travelling? How much attention do they pay to other road users? Are they following the rules of the road? Does the use of different modes of travel have an impact on their behaviour? At a time of accelerating development of active modes of transport - including cycling - sharing the road – and public space in general require all parties to be able to adapt in order to guarantee safe and peaceful travel for all. The responses provided by 12,400 Europeans highlight the need to make all users aware of the need to respect others and the rules, and thus enable harmonious coexistence between the various transport modes.
Report Highlights
In Europe, the regular use of active modes of transport is still second to car use.
The car is, and remains, the primary mode of transportation in Europe. However, for their daily journeys, Europeans are also regular users of active modes. 66% regularly walk, and 22% regularly use a bicycle. Another 7% use a motorised two-wheeler, and 3% a scooter or hoverboard.
Regardless of the mode of travel, the prospect of sharing the road creates anxiety and tension.
The diversity of modes of transport (cars, motorised two-wheelers, bicycles, PLEVs, walking) and the changes in their respective shares, in a constrained public space, makes cohabitation between the various users complex and often difficult. Indeed, 93% of road users in Europe are afraid of the risky behaviour of others.
Risk-taking and non-compliance with the basic rules of the road affect all categories of users and, overall, men more often than women.
Despite the fact that phone use is recognised as one of the main sources of distraction, causing many accidents, more than half of motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians use their phone while driving or walking. For example, 66% of motorists (70% of men and 62% of women), 58% of pedestrians walk while using the telephone (56% of men and 59% of women).
Tension on the roads is also linked to non-respect of spaces reserved for certain categories of users.
Respect for the spaces reserved for certain categories of more vulnerable users must take precedence, in order to ensure their safety. Lack of space, traffic density, safety concerns ... these are all false “good reasons” for encroaching on the spaces reserved for other road users and putting them at risk. This includes cyclists walking on pavements, motorists opening their car door without checking if a cyclist is coming, pedestrians crossing by non-designated places, motorcyclists parking on pavements, and many others.
Openvia Mobility and Valerann Team up in the Delivery of a Comprehensive Asset and Traffic Management Solution Introducing a New Intelligent Roads Era
Madrid, Spain, Sept 6, 2022 - Openvia, technology division of a global roadway operator Globalvia, and Valerann, a global leader in Intelligent Traffic Solutions, announce the immediate availability of a new advanced technology services platform for road traffic and asset management operations.
This new disruptive offering is a result of collaboration between the two companies and offers road operators support in addressing their short- and long-term operational challenges. Exploiting the synergy between the companies’ flagship products, it elevates road operators’ assets maintenance and operations management to new heights.
The integration of Lanternn by Valerann™with Geomic by Openvia, significantly enriches and expands Geomic functional capabilities resulting in delivery of comprehensive overview of road operations. By taking operational data from Geomic and seamlessly incorporating all available roadway disparate data sources, the joint solution simplifies and accelerates the delivery of highly relevant insights to the operations managers. The use of advanced proprietary algorithms based on AI/ML and computer vision, results in best-in-class data fusion including precise events cross-validation and prioritization for immediate and future road operations improvements such as road traffic optimization, carbon emissions reduction, recovery services planning and accurate risk prediction. The highly relevant analytics and insights help improve road operations performance, increase accuracy in incidents detection, reduce incidence response time and increase road safety. As a result, road operators can improve their immediate operational KPIs and strategic planning through timely data-driven, informative and actional decisions.
The mobility industry is moving towards smarter and increasingly connected future where autonomous or man-operated vehicles become a part of intelligent all-connected road eco-system. Thus seamless integration of all elements of in a complex eco-system is crucial for smooth and safe roadway operations. This fruitful collaboration between the two companies has demonstrated the potential for innovation within the mobility sphere.
Valerann and Openvia have successfully completed deployments of this new platform on the AP-53 roadway in Galicia, Spain, exploring application of deep data analysis for road assets management. This pilot delivered key results, including improved situational awareness and increased responsiveness to road safety critical events. Seamlessly integrating with existing ITS systems, the joint solution extended road coverage from 55% to 100%, eliminating blind spots and providing a comprehensive overview of the entire road. This enabled an 89% increase in road events detection and 25% time reduction in critical event detection. Following the success of this deployment, Globalvia plans to expand this offer to other concessions in their portfolio.
Gabriel Jacobson, CEO and Co-Founder of Valerann: “This commercial partnership is an important step for the company in its continuous evolution, representing our innovative forward-thinking approach to the future of the ITS industry.”
Fernando Vallejo, Innovation and Systems Director of Globalvia and Managing Director of Openvia: ”We believe that Openvia & Valerann together are capable of transforming roads operations through detecting and validating traffic events in real-time and providing invaluable insights for actionable data-driven decisions leading to increased operations efficiency. This is a game changer for the ITS industry”.
About Openvia and Geomic
Openvia’s Geomic is a universal, all-in-one cloud-based Field Services & Asset Management tool and includes a comprehensive set of modules imperative for efficient management of the entire road operations, including corrective and preventive maintenance, scheduling, resource management and incident response. Openvia is the innovation and technology platform of the Globalvia Group. Currently located in Spain, the United States and Portugal, it transforms transport infrastructure to the new era of mobility including smart roads, smart railways and digital solutions. With a strong commitment to open innovation and sustainability, Openvia offers new mobility services always placing the citizen at the center with the aim of improving their quality of life. As a mobility operator, Openvia keeps track with the deep transformation in the way we live by strategically collaborating with the main technological players in the mobility sector.
For additional information, visit: https://www.openvia.io, follow us on our Openvia Mobility LinkedIn profile. For press enquiries, please contact info@openvia.io.
About Valerann Ltd and Lanternn by Valerann™
Lanternn by Valerann™ is an innovative road data analytics solution that extract value from roadway operational data and provides road operators with exceptional clarity of real-time traffic situation through the use of AI-driven proprietary data fusion engine.
A global leader in intelligent road traffic management solutions (ITS), Valerann is redefining modern mobility and roadway operations through enabling actionable, accurate and timely data-driven decision-making. By using information from multiple disparate sources and leveraging sophisticated proprietary AI and computer vision algorithms, we extract value from Big Data delivering a clear and comprehensive vision of the entire road situation in real-time. We provide roadway operators with bespoke insights and empower them to deliver on their objectives. Established in 2016, Valerann has offices in the UK, Israel, Spain and the US and is working with customers worldwide.
For additional information, visit: https://www.valerann.com, follow us on our official LinkedIn channel. For press enquiries, please contact press@valerann.com.
Why the High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety Matters on the Ground
In June 2022, the President of the 76th General Assembly convened the first ever High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety. Its theme was 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery. As such, the meeting was an important barometer for national governments’ political will to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030.
The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety analysed the key outcomes of the meeting: the political declaration (A/RES/76/294) and the plenary statements made by member states.
The political declaration was compared against the Stockholm Declaration and A/RES/74/299 which declared the Decade of Action. Comparative to these documents, the analysis noted stronger action-based language for governments to put in place national strategies and targets and implement a Safe System approach and includes three mandated checkpoints for progress on the Decade of Action in 2023, 2025, and 2026. However, it lacks commitment to domestic government funding and civil society participation found in the previous documents. Read the full analysis of the political declaration HERE.
73 statements were made by member states and the European Union. 25 (34%) statements mentioned that the Member State was or would be implementing a Safe System approach. However, key specifics aligned to the Safe System were missing. 23 (32%) statements mentioned speed management and only four (5%) mentioned 30 km/h limits, versus 37 (51%) statements that mentioned road user education and 36 (49%) statements that mentioned user behaviour. This indicates that implementation of a true safe system, which takes the burden off personal responsibility and onto the system, may be less advanced than implied. 60 (82%) statements mentioned a national strategy. 40 (55%) statements mentioned a specific national road death reduction target. A further 22 (30%) referred to the target set out in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 (Global Plan) or the Political Declaration. Yet only 15 (21%) of statements mentioned investment in road safety, and, of these, only four mentioned a specific figure. An evidence-based strategy, ambitious target, and appropriate funding reflect political will. Read the full analysis of the statements HERE.
The Alliance presented these findings to members as an advocacy tool for NGOs and road safety professionals to help them to maintain pressure on their governments for evidence-based road safety policies and implementation. To support the analysis, the Alliance is running a briefing session on Wednesday 30 November at 14:00 CET. The session will run through the analysis and its relevance for road safety advocacy. It is open to all. You can register HERE.
