Driving on the motorway without slowing down or stopping to pay the toll is now possible thanks to free-flow toll collection. This innovative system, already deployed on several motorway routes such as the A13 and A14, radically transforms the driver experience by combining fluidity, safety, and modernity. How does it work? What equipment is required? And above all, what payment solutions are available for regular or occasional users? In this article, we explore in detail how free-flow tolling works, the benefits of electronic toll collection, and simple ways to pay for your trip with peace of mind.
What is free-flow tolling?
Free-flow tolling is an automated payment system that allows vehicles to travel on motorways without stopping at toll barriers. Gantries equipped with sensors and cameras detect and identify moving vehicles, automatically calculating the amount due based on the route taken.
How Free-Flow Tolling Works
The gantries installed above the traffic lanes are equipped with advanced technologies:
- High-resolution cameras: read license plates.
- Classification sensors: determine the vehicle's category (car, truck, etc.).
- Communication systems: interact with electronic toll badges.
These devices operate regardless of weather or traffic conditions, ensuring reliable and continuous detection.
Using the electronic toll badge
The electronic toll badge, such as the Liber-t, facilitates free-flow passage at toll booths:
- Installation: Attached to the windshield, generally behind the rearview mirror, in the designated area.
- Automatic detection: The badge is detected as it passes through the gantries, allowing automatic debiting of the amount. due.
- Benefits: Time savings, centralized monthly billing, access to additional services such as partner parking lots.
It is essential to ensure that the badge is correctly positioned and in good working order to avoid any detection errors.
Available Payment Solutions
For users without an electronic toll badge, several payment options are available:
- Online payment: on the website sanef.com, by entering the registration number.
- Physical payment points: at tobacconists or newsagents that are partners of the Nirio network, in cash or by credit card.
- Payment terminals: only on the A4 at the Boulay free-flow toll booth, accepting various payment methods.
Payment must be made within 72 hours of passing through, otherwise penalties will apply.
Benefits of free-flow tolls
The free-flow toll system offers numerous benefits:
- Traffic flow: Reduced traffic jams at toll booths.
- Time savings: No stopping required, which speeds up journeys.
- Increased safety: Reduced risk of accidents near toll booths.
How does free-flow tolling work?
The Free-flow toll collection is based on a simple principle: the automatic detection of each vehicle as it travels on the motorwaywithout stopping or even slowing down, to allocate the toll amount due.
The gantries above the traffic lanes are equipped with equipment that determines the vehicle category (cars, heavy goods vehicles, etc.) based on their volume and number of axles. These sensors cover all lanes of the motorway, including the emergency lane. They detect the vehicle's position on the roadway and its direction of travel, regardless of traffic or weather conditions. The system takes into account the Liber-t electronic toll badge in vehicles equipped with it, provided it is properly attached to the windshield.