Can I drive on the highway without applying for ETC in the future?
2 Answers
You can drive on the highway without applying for ETC, and you can pay through manual lanes when charging. ETC (Electronic Toll Collection): Electronic Non-Stop Toll Collection. It is an automatic toll collection system for highways or bridges. It uses computer networking technology to process background settlements with banks, thereby achieving the purpose of vehicles paying highway or bridge tolls without stopping at toll stations. ETC's deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and using computer networking technology for background settlement with banks, the vehicle can pay the toll without stopping at the toll station. All of 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 environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased 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 urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also explicitly set the goal of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means that more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
As a frequent traveler, of course you can drive on the highway without an ETC! The policy doesn’t mandate ETC, so you can always use the manual toll lane to pay with cash or scan a QR code with your phone. The only downside is waiting in line for several minutes or even over ten minutes, especially during peak hours when it can get quite congested. The advantage of ETC is faster passage and frequent discounts, like a 5% saving, which adds up on long trips. But if you only hit the highway once or twice a year, say for a trip to a neighboring city, skipping ETC has no impact at all—every toll station has staffed service. No need to worry about being turned away; just bring your payment method. ETC is widespread but not monopolized.
