Are there discounts for ETC highway tolls?

[GenevieveAnn]

Banks handling related applications offer greater discounts to encourage ETC adoption. Starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC or not using ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the purpose of paying road and bridge tolls without stopping at toll stations. All this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, thereby minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reducing wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with and using ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles, future efforts will also promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device is faulty or non-existent. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Excessive speed will prevent reading vehicle device information and may lead to deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the electronic tag invalid. It can be sent to the bank handling the ETC card or the highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or for those who have modified their windshields.