Emmanuel Macron Takes on the “Burning” Issue of Smartphones at Toll Booths on TikTok

It is quite an unexpected video that the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, published on his personal TikTok account.

President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for paying highway tolls with a smartphone, on Wednesday, January 22, via a video posted on TikTok. This is certainly not the news of the month, but it is rather surprising enough to be discussed! This stance comes after a wave of testimonies from motorists penalized for using their phones while driving in this context.

The discussion was initiated by two influencers, including TikToker “s4iint,” who shared his experience on the platform. He explained that he received a 90-euro fine and lost 3 points on his license after paying a toll via Apple Pay. His video, viewed nearly five million times, caught the attention of the President of the Republic. In response, Emmanuel Macron posted a message on TikTok : “Hello, I just saw you, and you’re right. I believe that by 2025, we should be able to pay tolls with our phones.” The president assured that he had forwarded this issue to the Minister of the Interior, promising a collective review of this rule. “Thanks for the alert”, he added.

This debate highlights an inconsistency in the use of technologies while driving. Currently, paying with a smartphone is considered the same as using the phone, even when stopped in front of a toll barrier, and exposes drivers to sanctions. Emmanuel Macron’s intervention could pave the way for a change in regulations to better incorporate new digital habits within a safe framework.

However, it is necessary to ensure that social media does not become the official complaints office. While this presidential initiative may address a concrete issue, it should not overshadow other national priorities. Moreover, it is worth recalling that toll payments can already be made without direct manipulation via the Liber-t box, offering a practical and legal solution. Holding your phone in your hand while stopped at the moment of payment is one thing, searching for it in the glove compartment and unlocking it 500 meters before the toll in a risky zone is another matter!

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