Can I use the manual lane if I have ETC on the highway?

[JaxsonFitz]

If you have ETC installed, you can use the manual payment lane, but you need to remove the ETC card and hand it to the toll collector. When using the manual lane, you must stop the vehicle, take the card out of the OBU device, and let the toll collector swipe the card to obtain exit information. When passing through the toll station, follow the order and do not cut in line, which may cause congestion in the manual lane. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a road toll method specifically designed for toll roads, commonly found on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and some urban roads to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, the computer network technology is used to settle accounts with the bank, achieving the purpose of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: 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; Reduce wear and tear: saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improve efficiency: the efficiency of ETC lanes can theoretically 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 agglomerations will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased," and clearly proposed in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development that "the ETC usage rate of road passenger vehicles will reach 50% by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks, explore the deep integration of the ETC system with the development directions of smart transportation such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, and provide comprehensive travel services for car owners, which means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front stopping, to prevent the ETC device failure of the vehicle in front or the absence of an ETC device, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle in front to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which will also lead to charging failure. Unauthorized disassembly or movement of the OBU device, detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, etc., will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was processed or the highway service office for testing. Non-human loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also lead to charging failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to the manual MTC lane and use cash or card swiping to pass. If the car windshield is too thick, it may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after an accident or for those who have modified their front windshields.

[SanJayla]

I always use ETC when driving on the highway, but several times when the device malfunctioned, I had to take the manual lane. Like that time when the battery died, the tag didn't beep at all, so I had to slow down and go through the manual lane. The staff would check it, and you could just pay with cash or WeChat. However, it's worth noting that it's more convenient and faster to prioritize the ETC lane to avoid queuing. I recommend maintaining the device regularly, checking the battery every quarter to prevent getting stuck on the highway. Using the manual lane too often can also be troublesome, as the system might not deduct fees automatically, affecting points and discounts. In short, it's not a big deal, but making it a habit to use ETC will save you more hassle.