CzechToll has launched extraordinary measures aimed at minimizing traffic complications caused by small foreign hauliers who are not registering in sufficient numbers for the new toll system in the Czech Republic. The priority of all the measures is to ensure free passage for passenger car drivers and the responsible lorry drivers already equipped with the new on-board unit. The measures will also reduce waiting time for the on-board units at border crossings.
In five weeks, hauliers registered 122,000 vehicles in the new toll system. This is approximately 27% of the vehicles that are obliged to register and secure a new on-board unit. Given the lack of interest on the part of hauliers to meet their obligation, the new toll system operator strengthened the information campaign in the Czech Republic and Poland - countries where the largest number of vehicles remains to be registered.
If small carriers operating under the prepaid toll system fail to quickly fulfil their obligation to register and pick up a new on-board unit, the Czech Republic is at risk of traffic collapse in early December. While half of the large carriers operating in the post-paid regime have already made the necessary registration, only 5% of small carriers operating in the pre-paid regime have done so. Four weeks after the registrations were launched, 82 thousand vehicles have been registered in the system.
Today the government approved a new National Space Plan for the period of 2020 – 2025, which builds on the government's effort to support the development of the space industry and excellence in science. The Ministry of Transport wants to support further growth of the space industry through a new space plan so that Czech companies can supply more complex components of satellites and launchers, such as whole instruments or satellite platforms. We also want to focus on supporting innovation, education in technical subjects, technology transfer, promoting promising ideas and their marketing and closer cooperation between universities and industry.
By the end of this year, another 130 parking spaces for trucks will be added to the D1 motorway, making a total of 850 parking spaces available. A further 213 parking spaces will be created for emergencies. As part of the winter maintenance, there will also be two spreading wagons on Exit 90 all winter, which can start immediately and treat the road if necessary. Minister of Transport Vladimir Kremlík informed about it at a joint meeting with the Governor of the Vysočina Region Jiří Běhounek, which follows the July meeting.