With one week to go until Road User Charging Conference 2021, CiTTi meets speaker Johan Schoups, CEO of Viapass, who will take part in a leadership discussion covering the lessons learnt and the ‘new normal’ post Covid-19.
Taking place on 07-08 September at the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s, Brussels, Road User Charging Conference 2021 provides the latest insight, case studies and debate on current trends and future challenges that affect senior decision makers who have responsibility for intelligent transportation systems and road pricing.
This two-day gathering of leading practitioners welcomes delegates from around the world and across sectors to encourage active discussion and peer-to-peer learning.
Name: Johan Schoups
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about the job is the opportunity to lead the institution that implemented in 2016 a full GNSS tolling system, nationwide, in less than 18 months. Furthermore, it is that Viapass a forerunner in EETS. With 50% of the marketshare in tolling being generated by fiver (and soon to be seven) EETS providers, Viapass set out the blueprint on how EETS works, and is the first fully open, and operational live – laboratory; the “cradle” of GNSS EETS.
Tolling and related tech is the future. Not only is “pay what you use” the new normal; it will become even more important with the arrival of shared mobility, new energies (and the possible disappearance of fuel taxes…) and the need for “steering” the road usage. (time-, location- and driving direction – based tolling)
Does legislation help or hinder development in this sector?
Legislation is inevitably one of the key tools that can help the sector, since most of the road infrastructure is public in Belgium. Political authorities can help tolling, or can block tolling, by the simple fact of issuing laws.
Issuing well written laws can undoubtedly boost the implementation of tolling, and on the other hand, the tolling can generate the necessary funds for high quality maintenance and initiatives in mobility (and even steer the latter). If legislation is written in a “visionary” way, it will be a win-win for everybody.
What is the biggest challenge facing those with responsibility for implementing road user charging in 2021?
I think there are two main challenges; the first one on authority level, with the question on how to integrate and stimulate the new technologies and energies (and how to promote them). On the other hand, starting a complete new toll system, with an equal level playing field for all players, will be quite a challenge.
The big challenge in the data field will be the legal one – data ownership / data privacy.
What’s your best piece of advice for those looking to implement road user charging solutions?
Be very clear on the target, do not underestimate the communication efforts linked to it, limit to a minimum exceptions in vehicles that do not have to pay toll, and be sure that the implementation and roll out is directed and managed by one streamlined (not to big) steering group with full decision authority to roll out the system operationally (in respect of the clear guidelines set out before, and understood by everybody).
How will the business of road user charging have changed by 2030?
A clear evolution will be the evolution of the technology, and the gradually disappearance of OBUs. Vehicles and other technologies will be able to deliver the tolling data themselves. I like to adapt the notion of “BYOD”, into Bring Your own DATA (instead of Device). Due to this, I also expect a wider use of tolling – for more categories of vehicles, in more and more countries.
The sector will be more and more data driven, and paying for usage will become the new normal – especially when shared mobility will evolve strongly.
Why are you looking forward to speaking at Road User Charging Conference 2021?
Very simple: it is THE platform to meet the key players and friends in the sector, AND after two years of meetings on screen, I will be very happy to meet all again in F2F and have a chat without having to hear “sorry, you are on mute”!
At the conference you’ll also be able to hear from Continental, Dublin City Council Smart City Unit, National Road Safety Authority, Viapass… and more! You can view the full agenda here. All times are shown in CEST (GMT+1).
For partnership enquiries, please contact Robert Gouge at robert.gouge@akabomedia.co.uk or by calling +44 (0) 20 8065 0465. For speaking opportunities, please contact Claudia Davidson at claudia.davidson@akabomedia.co.uk or by calling +44 (0) 20 8037 1777.
Meet some of our other speakers at Road User Charging conference 2021…
