Can ETC still be used if the card is removed?
1 Answers
If the card is removed, the ETC device cannot be used. According to the "Rules for the Use of Non-Stop Rapid Transit Systems," the ETC card must be inserted into the OBU device for normal operation; otherwise, user information cannot be read. If the card is removed, you can use the manual lane and have the staff swipe the card. When the ETC card is inserted into the OBU device, there will be a prompt sound, indicating that the device is activated. Without the card inserted, the device remains in a dormant state and cannot recognize vehicle information at toll stations. Therefore, ETC cannot be used if the card is removed. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a specialized road toll method used for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and some urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle accounts with banks, enabling vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at the toll station. All of this is based on the principle of "pass first, deduct 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 and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation cards will be widely interoperable in key urban clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will include promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
