Can I Use the Manual Lane with an ETC?
1 Answers
You can use the manual payment lane with an ETC, 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, proceed in an orderly manner and avoid cutting in line, which could cause congestion in the manual lane. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a specialized method for collecting tolls on roads, commonly used on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain 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 vehicle's electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks. This allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, 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: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass without stopping. Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Improves efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more high-tech. 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 key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future Possibilities: In addition to improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination for smart transportation. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle ahead is stationary, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent accidental toll payment for the other vehicle due to ETC device failure or absence. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag becomes loose or detached, may render the tag invalid. In such cases, take it to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. Using a debit card linked to ETC may result in failed deductions if the balance is insufficient. Follow the instructions of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane with cash or card payment. Thick or modified windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles that have undergone windshield repairs or replacements after accidents.
