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Drivers on motorways in eastern France will see major changes next year, as physical paper ‘toll tickets’ given on entry are replaced with automatic scanning of number plates.

However, when exiting vehicles will still need to pass through barriers to pay their tolls.

Toll amounts will be calculated using newly-installed cameras to see at which point vehicles joined the road, scanning number plates or télépéage toll badges.

Impacting 253km of motorways managed by concessionaire AREA, stretches of the A41, A43, A48, and A49 are all set to see changes. 

The map below shows the roads where the new system will come into force.

Despite number plate scanners being fully installed at 27 gantries the system is not set to be operational until the middle of next year.

System similar to barrier-free roads

The system is similar to the barrier-free (flux libre) systems used on several other motorways, including the A13, A14, as well as the AREA-operated A79. 

The main difference however is that drivers on the eastern motorways will still need to pay upon exit as they need to pass a physical exit barrier.

When they reach the exit lane, a payment terminal displays how much a driver needs to pay for the journey, which can be paid via bank card, cash, etc depending on which lane a driver uses. 

Those using an electronic toll badge can drive through dedicated lanes with payments being made automatically through the badge.

Unlike on barrier-free roads – where drivers must remember to pay for their journeys after travelling (or by using télépéage electronic toll badges) – the physical ‘exit’ barriers will ensure drivers pay when exiting the road network.

The system is already used on part of the A41 between Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains, where up to 12,000 vehicles pass through per-day. More than 90% of drivers questioned say they prefer it. 

AREA says expanding the system is not only beneficial for drivers but also ecological, and will save up to 24 tonnes of paper per year. 

Spaces previously taken up by entry lanes (each one averaging around 4,000m²) will be used for rewilding and planting trees or for amenities such as carpool parking zones.