After three years, Free Flow advances along with sector adaptation

Free Flow in Brazil is going through a period of consolidation, with the expansion of the model accompanied by operational, regulatory and user experience adjustments.

After three years of implementation in the country, the system already operates in 13 concessions, with almost 70 active gantries and approximately 5 thousand kilometers of highways distributed across the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Rondônia.

From a global point of view, Free Flow is not a recent innovation. Barrier-free electronic toll systems were adopted around 35 years ago, originating in Norway and, since then, have spread to countries such as the United States, Canada, France and Japan. In Brazil, the operation began in 2023 at Rio-Santos and allowed charging without queues, without emissions and with a discount for TAG users.

In the consolidation process, the construction of mechanisms that ensure greater predictability and integration between the different agents involved becomes important. Recently, the National Traffic Council (Contran) announced a deliberation that marks another step in structuring the system in the country.

The decision temporarily suspends around 3.4 million fines related to Free Flow and establishes a deadline of November 16th for the settlement of user debts linked to toll fees. It also provides for the temporary interruption of the application of new fines for infractions during the transition period.

In addition to the direct impact on users and concessionaires, the deliberation establishes a broader operational horizon: highway administrators will have 100 days to adapt their systems and complete data integration, a step considered essential for charging to be fully accessible in the Digital Traffic Card.

From an operational point of view, one of the central elements for the consolidation of Free Flow is the available payment models, which directly influence the user experience and the efficiency of the system. Currently, there are three main payment methods.

One of them is single payment, which requires the user to access the concessionaire's website to adjust the tariff. Still unfamiliar to some drivers, especially those who do not fully understand how charging works in the free-pass model, this format depends on active action by the driver and is more subject to evasion and inconsistencies in the payment process.

Payment via the app allows the user to register in advance and link a payment method. In this case, there is greater automation of the process, although there are still limitations related to operational failures, such as blocked cards, lack of limit or inconsistencies in plate reading. Online payments benchmarks in Brazil indicate that around 2 in every 10 card-not-present transactions are denied.

In Free Flow, this refusal is not just a lost sale: it can turn into a fine, collection costs, notification and dispute.

The most efficient model is automatic payment (TAG) with guaranteed transfer, in which charging occurs without the need for action by the user at the time of ticketing, and with a guarantee of fare transfer to concessionaires, reducing operational frictions and positioning the Brazilian system as one of the most advanced in the world.

The central difference is in the risk: the application without warranty only triggers collection attempts; automatic payment with guaranteed transfer ensures payment of the tariff to the concessionaire and transfers the management of possible defaults to authorized operators. Automatic payment is the only penalty-proof method.

When there is a guarantee of transfer, the collection no longer depends on the specific authorization of a card, the driver's reminder or subsequent collection by the concessionaire. For this reason, tariff incentives (toll discounts) must be calibrated according to the efficiency of each modality.

One-time payment must remain available to ensure options for the user, and applications can play a complementary role. But the biggest regulatory and economic incentive must fall on the journey that delivers effective settlement, interoperability and lower systemic costs: automatic payment with guaranteed transfer. It deserves greater encouragement because it reduces defaults, reduces collection costs, protects users from fines and improves their experience.

This movement is already supported by the expansion of the use of electronic payment methods. Data from the Brazilian Association of Automatic Payment Companies for Mobility (Abepam) indicate that around 15 million vehicles already use tags in Brazil, with the potential to reach 30 million by 2028.

Contran's actions in the regulatory field play a central role in structuring the transition process and establishing conditions for the system's operation to advance in a more standardized and integrated way. Furthermore, the less user intervention is needed in the payment process, the greater the operational fluidity of the system as a whole tends to be.

With ongoing adjustments and the expectation of greater standardization of operating rules, charging and data integration, Free Flow tends to consolidate itself as a more efficient system for managing road flow, with greater predictability for users and interoperability between different concessions.

*Diego Ros Quinto is vice-president of Abepam and administrative and financial director of Move Mais

The articles published by CNN Infra seek to stimulate debate, reflection and shed light on views on the main challenges, problems and solutions faced by Brazil and other countries in the world. The texts published in this space do not necessarily reflect the opinion of CNN Brasil.

Source: CNN