Satellite Tolling Systems are new and complex, but work well, are manageable and competitive. For a long time private concessionaires have been operating special small parts of the road infrastructure in many countries, e.g. tunnels, bridges or some motorways. In such cases, their investments will be rewarded by levying a toll from the users of these infrastructures.However, such ventures so far only cover very small parts of the total road infrastructure. For a new toll on Germany's very large, open and very complex network of motorways with their large number of junctions and slip roads the traditional tolling schemes were obviously not an option. For these reasons, the first tolling system relying on satellite navigation (GNSS) was developed and put in operation. Levying toll in this system does not require roadside equipment and infrastructure at every junction or segment. Rather it relies on autonomous On-Board Units (OBU) allowing the user to pay his charges automatically in the most convenient way. This technology is a quantum leap allowing true usage-based tolling for the first time also for very large and complex road networks. Obviously this System basedon versatile On-Board Computers with GPS and later GALILEO, CALM InfraredDSRC short range communications also allowing vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios and GSM long range communications as well as a CAN-BUS interface to other in-vehicle components with in-field updatable software and data is technically capable to host many other applications. Standardisation in Europe will establish a common platform. While the road infrastructure in Europe does comply with common standards already allowing every vehicle registered and licensed in any European country and every driver to use any road, tolling systems have still a long way to go: There is a multitude of tolling regimes with incompatible technologies. The user is confronted with a multitude of different toll operators, rues, ways of payments and technologies and the journey is halted at many points. To improve this unacceptable situation, the introduction of an interoperable European Electronic Tolling Service (EETS) is already a legal obligation within the EU under Directive 1004/52/EC and has been adopted in national legislation in most EU countries. On this basis, users shall get a tolling service following the principle one contract, one device, one payment everywhere, starting with HGV and later for all vehicles. Not all aspects and details of EETS are described and defined in the Directive. On technological, contractual, procedural and other levels additional standardisation and regulations are required. These standards and regulations are actively pursued on a European scale. The European Commission has initiated a range of expert groups looking into all aspects. Several studies and research activities have been completed or started looking into the capabilities of GNSS/GSM based systems for a range of safety and security issues and road regulation management for various types of vehicles, from commercial HGVs to coaches to cars and other smaller vehicles. A short overview of these studies in general is presented and studies addressing tracking / tracing, anomalies and emergency alarms and road regulation management of special types of transports are discussed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E137145.
Samenvatting