Electronic payment systems are becoming more widespread across the continent but each country tends to opt for a different payment system, which means vehicles need to be fitted with different electronic equipment.
The European Commission is now preparing a draft directive aimed at ending disparities in road toll collection, and from 2005 wants key technical conditions to be met to ensure systems used across Europe are compatible.
It will be presented along with the commission's communication on infrastructure charging, which is expected to propose a common methodology for calculating fair charging levels for all modes of transport, including roads.
It is believed that member states will have to ensure that electronic payment systems are extended to at least half of their toll road networks by 2005.
Electronic toll collection has fast become popular with European operators and users and payment is conducted by means of microwave communication between an on-board unit (OBU) inside the vehicle and a roadside computer.
Drivers need not slow down for tolls to pay, which results in less congestion and faster journey times. This in turn can lead to increased fuel economy and less pollution.
Last year, a report produced by Frost & Sullivan suggested there were about 4.3 million OBUs in use across Europe. It expects that figure to have increased to about 14.3 million units by 2006.
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