'Archaic' that drivers still have to stop and queue at toll barriers, MEP says

Eva Osborne

It is "archaic" that trucks, buses, and cars are still being forced to stop, queue, and pay at toll booths, according to MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

The EU Transport Committee MEP said Ireland is behind its EU counterparts, who are moving to free-flow toll systems, something we only have on the M50.

Ní Mhurchú said toll booths are an outdated concept that causes traffic delays, minor accidents, millions of euros in wasted diesel and millions of tonnes of carbon emissions because traffic has to queue, stop, start, and idle at toll booths.

After meeting the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the MEP said toll booth stops are costing €26 million in wasted diesel each year for HGVs alone.

Ní Mhurchú said she is open to proposing legislation at EU level, in the EU Transport Committee, that would require EU authorities to ensure “free-flow” tolling within a reasonable timeframe.

“Millions of cars, buses, and HGVs stop at our toll booths every year, causing minor accidents, inconvenience, traffic delays, wasted fuel costs and generating millions in carbon emissions," she said.

"We must work with our toll operators to move towards barrier free tolling, as we have on the M50. Traffic should be allowed to move freely through our toll points without stopping – either paying with a tag or through a website."