Should trucks pay a toll WHEN they are on Austria’s state and local roads? Yes, at least when it comes to two federal states: Lower Austria and also Styria now submit an application to enforce a kilometer-based toll throughout Austria.
AUSTRIA. Switzerland’s role model for this: trucks have been asked to go to the cash desk there for ten years. The calculation is simple: the distance covered is recorded via GPS, which results in the tax to be paid. But so far they have been driving for free on Austria’s municipal and state roads. It only costs them something on motorways and expressways.
Application on October 1st
A fact that could now change quickly. On October 1st, all of Austria’s transport councils will come together for the transport consultants’ conference. Two federal states, specifically Lower Austria and Styria, want to submit an application for a kilometer-based toll throughout Austria. Transport Council of Lower Austria Franz Schnabl (SPÖ):
“In addition to reducing noise and dust through truck traffic in Lower Austria’s cities and municipalities, politicians are urgently called upon to ensure safety, especially for road users at risk, such as children and the elderly. A kilometer-based truck toll based on the Swiss model, in combination with truck driving bans, works quickly and brings a solution to the problem of toll evasion and thus less truck traffic in cities and communities. In Lower Austria in particular, many citizens suffer immensely from the fact that truck hauliers ‘shorten’ routes in order to save motorway tolls. “
“Freight traffic should be on the rails”
In Austria there are currently 2,200 km of motorways and expressways, 33,000 km of state roads and 88,000 km of municipal roads. According to Schnabl, trucks cause massive damage to Austria’s roads:
“The renovation will cost a three-digit million sum annually in the next few years, which is why the main causes should contribute to the costs of the road damage. It is not understandable that the taxpayers should bear the costs of the polluters. “
And: “In the climate crisis there is an urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions by shifting freight traffic from road to rail.”
For the expansion of public transport
Together with his colleague Anton Lang (SPÖ) from Styria, he wants to introduce a model similar to that in Switzerland, specifically a performance-based heavy vehicle tax (LSVA), including a kilometer-based toll for all roads. Internationally, the truck toll in Switzerland enjoys the reputation of best implementing the true cost and the polluter pays principle. The income generated from this, after deducting the operating costs, could be around half a billion euros, which are used to expand public transport and are available as funds for climate investments. The Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) is also calling for the truck toll to be expanded.
Do you feel bothered by the trucks in your community?
No to the comprehensive truck toll from the WKNÖ vice
Truck traffic pollutes the community
