Can ETC exit use the manual lane?
3 Answers
ETC vehicles can use the manual lane when exiting the highway. The ETC system records the vehicle's information when entering the highway, and the fee is deducted based on this information when exiting. If the vehicle enters a manual lane, the driver can remove the ETC card and hand it to the staff for manual scanning, which still allows the information to be read and the fee to be deducted, after which the barrier will lift for normal passage. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road payment system. It is specifically designed for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain urban sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Communication between the vehicle's on-board electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane enables computer network technology to process payments with banks, allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. This operates on a "pass first, deduct later" principle. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by eliminating stops at toll booths. Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and stops. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more advanced. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Integrated Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of achieving interoperability of transportation cards in major city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing ETC adoption rates. It also sets a target of 50% ETC usage for road passenger vehicles by 2020. Future possibilities: Beyond improving ETC installation convenience and passenger vehicle usage rates, future plans include promoting ETC for trucks and exploring deeper integration with vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination for smart transportation, offering comprehensive travel services to drivers. This means more scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC Usage Precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle ahead is stationary, maintain a distance of over 10 meters to avoid accidental payment for the preceding vehicle due to ETC device failure or absence. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Excessive speed may prevent reading vehicle device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or a loose or detached ETC electronic tag, can render the tag invalid. It can be tested at the bank where the ETC card was issued or at a highway service center. Non-deliberate detachment only requires reactivation. Insufficient balance on a debit card linked to ETC can cause deduction failure. Follow on-site staff guidance to use the manual MTC lane with cash or card payment. Thick or modified windshields (e.g., post-accident replacements) may cause poor ETC signal reception. ETC Working Principle: The on-board electronic tag on the windshield communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane via dedicated short-range communication. Computer network technology processes payments with banks, enabling vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by eliminating stops at toll booths. Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and stops. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more advanced. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous.
Last time I was in a hurry and accidentally drove into the ETC lane, only to find out the device was broken. I immediately changed lanes to the manual toll booth. The staff asked me to remove the ETC card and hand it to him. He swiped it with a handheld device, and the fee was deducted much faster than I expected. In fact, I often see ETC vehicles queuing at the manual lanes at highway exits—either new cars without installed devices or cases like mine where the device temporarily malfunctions. The manual lanes can handle it completely, just remember to remove the card in advance. Otherwise, the lane sensor will automatically lift the barrier, resulting in double charges. If this happens, remember to keep the receipt and go to the bank to process a refund. The highway toll station was designed with this flexible switching need in mind.
Working at the toll booth daily, I encounter over a dozen ETC vehicles taking the wrong lane. After drivers hand me their cards, I input entry details in the system to verify mileage, and paper receipts can be issued instantly. The most troublesome cases involve cards left inserted in the device—when the vehicle passes, the automatic barrier lifts and triggers another charge, requiring fee refund coordination later. I advise ETC users to check their device battery before long trips; if the indicator light isn't on, simply use the manual lane. Keep the card within easy reach in the passenger area for quick, smooth handover to staff.
