Driving on the motorway without slowing down or stopping to pay tolls is now possible thanks to free-flow tolling. Already deployed on several motorway routes such as the A13 and A14, this system radically transforms the driver experience by combining fluidity, safety, and modernity. How does it work? What equipment is needed? And above all, what payment options are available for regular and occasional users? In this article, we explore in detail how free-flow tolling works, the advantages of electronic toll collection, and simple ways to pay for your journey with complete peace of mind.
What is free-flow tolling?
Free-flow tolling is an automated payment system that allows vehicles to travel on the highway without stopping at toll barriers. Gantry cranes equipped with sensors and cameras detect and identify moving vehicles, automatically calculating the amount due based on the distance traveled.
How does free-flow tolling work?
Free-flow tolling is based on a simple principle: the automatic detection of each vehicle as it travels on the highway without stopping or even slowing down, in order to assign it the toll due.
The gantries above the traffic lanes are equipped with devices that determine the vehicle category (cars, trucks, etc.) based on its size and the number of axles. These sensors cover all lanes of the highway, including the emergency lane. They detect the vehicle's position on the road and its direction of travel, regardless of traffic or weather conditions. The system accepts the Liber-t electronic toll tag in vehicles equipped with one, provided it is correctly affixed to the windshield.
The gantries installed above the traffic lanes are equipped with advanced technologies:
- High-resolution cameras: read license plates.
- Classification sensors: determine the vehicle category (car, truck, etc.).
- Communication systems: interact with the toll collection tags.
These devices operate regardless of weather or traffic conditions, ensuring reliable and continuous detection.
How to use the electronic toll collection badge when passing under free-flow toll plazas?
The electronic toll tag, such as the Liber-t, facilitates passage through free-flow toll plazas:
- Installation: Attached to the windshield, usually behind the rearview mirror, in the designated area.
- Automatic detection: The tag is detected when passing under the gantries, allowing for automatic debiting of the toll due.
- Advantages: 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.
What payment solutions are available?
For users without an electronic toll tag, several payment options are available:
- Online payment: on the website sanef.com, by entering your vehicle registration number.
- Physical payment points: at tobacconists or newsagents partnering with the Nirio network, in cash or by bank card.
- Payment terminals: only on the A4 at the Boulay free-flow toll plaza, accepting various payment methods.
Payment must be made within 72 hours of the visit, otherwise penalties will apply.
What are the advantages of free-flow tolling?
The free-flow toll system offers numerous benefits:
- Smoother traffic flow: Reduced congestion at toll plazas.
- Time savings: No need to stop, which speeds up journeys.
- Increased safety: Reduced risk of accidents near toll plazas.