ROME - A small revolution is in the offing for millions of drivers on Italy's highways. The Italian traffic regulation authority (ART) is working on a fundamental reform of the toll system, which represents a historic step for consumer rights. At the heart of the plan: in future, anyone stuck in traffic jams due to roadworks or massive traffic obstructions will be entitled to compensation.
This is the authority's response to long-simmering resentment about a system in which the full price is payable even if the service is considerably restricted by reduced lanes or hours of waiting time.
New rules for fairness and transparency
The reform announced by ART President Zaccheo provides for a paradigm shift. Up to now, toll charges have been regularly adjusted, often without any direct reference to the actual investments made in the infrastructure. In future, the tariffs are to be more closely linked to real investments. Even more important, however, is the principle that users must be compensated directly if the quality of service is not maintained. Once approved by politicians, the new rules are to be introduced from January 2026, but will not be felt by drivers until between 2027 and 2028, when the operating companies' contracts are renewed. In addition, the operators are to be obliged to provide more transparency and deliver standardized data on traffic jams, roadworks and toll calculations.
Consumer advocates call for binding standards
The authority's initiative follows growing pressure from consumer protection organizations such as Robin. Its managing director Walther Andreaus welcomes the initiative, but warns: "The highway is a public good - the rights of consumers must not be subordinated to the profits of the operators." Only a week ago, Robin had demanded a reduction in tolls from Brennerautobahn AG, whose president, however, rejected an arbitrary reduction - a stance that appears to have been refuted by the new development and earlier court rulings. Consumer advocates are therefore calling for the introduction of binding quality charters in which standards and automatic compensation in the event of non-compliance are clearly defined in order to permanently protect the rights of motorists.
