Why do we have to pay tolls in Europe?

People really hate paying tolls. Do you consider yourself one of them? 

It must be frustrating to think that you have to pay for a road that has already been built with the money we pay taxes for. 

But, it’s not that simple. Tolls are a form of use tax that pays for the cost of road construction and maintenance, without raising taxes on non-users. Governments or sometimes private companies charge a fee for using specific roads or bridges. These fees are often used to fund road, bridge, and tunnel construction and maintenance, as well as other transportation-related initiatives. Briefly, it means that the maintenance and operation costs of a motorway network require the channeling of revenues obtained through tolls.

There are toll roads almost everywhere throughout Europe and they play a crucial part in many countries' transportation infrastructure. If we look back, we must say that tolls were collected even earlier, but for instance, in the Middle Ages, they were also using the same system to pay for building and maintaining roads. There were fees for crossing and going under bridges as well.

In this article, we will take a look at the reasons for paying toll roads in general and soon we will also cover the reasons for paying tolls in countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. 

Although travelers and road trippers may sometimes feel frustrated about paying tolls, they are vital for having well-maintained roads and efficient transportation networks in the countries.

Here are the main reasons: 

Funding Infrastructure: As already said, one of the primary reasons for toll payments is to generate revenue for the construction, maintenance, and operation of specific infrastructure projects, such as highways, bridges, tunnels, and expressways. The paying tolls provide a dedicated source of funding for these projects, and the users of the infrastructure actually help to cover the costs. Let's face it, roads of all types require ongoing maintenance.

Congestion Management: This was also mentioned previously, but tolls can be used as a tool to manage traffic flow, especially in highly populated areas with high traffic congestion. By charging a toll during peak hours or in congested areas, governments can encourage drivers to use alternative routes or not travel during the rush-hour times, reducing congestion.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Some countries choose to implement tolls as part of public-private partnership agreements, which means private companies may build and maintain infrastructure in exchange for the right to collect tolls for a specific period. This allows governments to leverage private sector expertise and funding. Not every toll payment is up to the government, but sometimes it is simply that, which leads us to the next point.

Political Decisions: Government policies and political decisions play a significant role. Some governments may prioritize funding infrastructure through taxation, while others see tolls as a fairer way to charge those who directly benefit from the infrastructure. Toll systems often align with the "user-pay" principle, where those who use the roads pay for them directly.

Economic Growth: The economic health and stability of a country also play a significant role. Wealthier nations may have more financial resources to fund infrastructure without relying on tolls, and less rich countries may need toll revenue to support their infrastructure needs.

In summary, the presence of tolls in a country is influenced by a complex interplay of economic, political, geographic, and last but not least, sustainable factors. Having read this, we hope to have made it clearer why we must and is essential to pay tolls. 

And, luckily for you, paying tolls has never been simpler. You can purchase e-vignettes for each of these mentioned countries from the convenience of your home just by using the eTOLLs EU App. 

If you want to learn more about the tolls in Europe and the diverse toll payment systems, read our article here.