Slovakia, Bratislava - "The new electronic road-toll system is not ready, following to our actual experience and information," stated Rudolf Pales from the Union of Slovak Motor Carriers (UNAS) at a press conference on Saturday. As much as the operator SkyToll claims that the system has been launched and works perfectly, transport companies disagree with that, said Pales.

He pointed out to the case of 20 Turkish truck drivers, who couldn't secure a board unit anywhere in Slovakia while passing through. "From Trstena to Ruzomberok (both in Zilina region), the drivers couldn't get a single working board unit. They were told the system had crashed and the registration is not possible," said Pales.

The new electronic system has held up also a Greek truck driver, who in all honesty intended to purchase a board unit and pay for passing through Slovakia. "He crossed the border near Bratislava, came up to the city and was told that a failure has occurred within the toll system. He took a taxi, and right now, the guy is still roaming Bratislava streets, trying to get a functioning board unit," said Pales.

The road-toll system operator SkyToll refuses these claims. "The system works and the board units are available. Hence, nothing stands in the way for carriers (to register)," SkyToll spokesperson Lenka Lendacka told reporters.

However, SkyToll refused the entry of reporters to data center, in order to convince of system functionality.

(Slovakia Today, TASR, press reports)