Attention Italy fans: Those who travel a lot on freeways could soon be paying less for tolls - a new regulation provides for more flexible costs and lower prices.
According to the ADAC, Italy is one of the leaders in Europe when it comes to high highway tolls. But for all those who will soon be heading for Lake Garda, Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast, there is reason for hope: a planned reform is intended to make the toll system more transparent - and open up potential savings.
A centerpiece of the reform is real relief for drivers. In future, anyone who loses time due to roadworks or traffic jams on Italian freeways is to receive a refund of the toll. The amount of compensation depends on the length of the delay and the section of highway affected. The responsible authority "Autorità di regolazione dei trasporti (ART)" is currently examining how these repayments can be implemented in practice.
In the long term, toll costs are also to be reduced and their calculation made more transparent. Instead of constant across-the-board increases, the fees should in future be more closely linked to the actual investments made by the operator. Drivers can therefore expect noticeable relief from 2027 at the earliest.
The new model also provides for flexible pricing. Toll costs could depend on the time of day, traffic situation and environmental class of the vehicle: slightly more expensive during peak times, cheaper at off-peak times or for environmentally friendly vehicles.
Getting stuck in traffic at Sterzing could therefore pay off in the future.
