Slovakia, Bratislava - Slovak non-parliamentary ethnic opposition party Most-Hid slammed Slovakia's overly high toll charges that are forcing lorry drivers to use far less costly motorways in neighbouring Hungary or plump for the less-quality roads across villages that are not tolled or cost less.

"Government is consciously driving our long-haul lorries to travel via surrounding countries, thus making the Slovak economy co-finance the road-building in Hungary," said Most-Hid deputy chairman Zsolt Simon.

Hauliers making a one-way journey between two biggest Slovak cities Bratislava and Kosice lying at the opposite ends of the country pay €74.86 to use the northern Slovak route or €60.09 to use the southern route. This compares unfavorably with a €10 daily fee in Hungary.

Robert Fico's administration is forcing lorry drivers to ship Slovaks goods across Hungary and is driving them on to roads of lower categories. "Due to such toll charges lorry drivers use the second- and third-class roads across nearly every village in this country. Living conditions have deteriorated in them as traffic was not so busy there in the past," he said.

Meanwhile, the country's net proceeds for 2010 of the toll collected are expected to reach €13 million, with €148 billion in the estimated collected amount and less €135 million in the state's payments to the toll system operator. That is far below €30 million in net proceeds from the sticker system last year.

"It is ridiculous that we have a toll system and the efficiency for the state is lower than if we didn't have it," said Simon.

Most-Hid therefore intends to reassess the toll system charges as well as the list of roads subject to the toll "so that lorry drivers do not use and destroy second- and third-class roads not designed for it and that they do not have to drive in foreign countries".

Simon also called into question the contracts between toll system operator SkyToll and the state. "It is necessary to examine all agreements relating to the toll including all documents. Short of that, there is no way to arrive at a solution," he said.

(SK Today / TASR, illustration photo)