Can the ETC device be turned off when not in use?
2 Answers
When the ETC card is not being used on highways, it can be removed. However, if you need to use the highway, you must reinsert the card in advance. Note that you should not remove the card while driving on the highway, as this will cause the ETC to malfunction. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel, 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. 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, more efficient, and more technologically advanced. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. How ETC works: Through dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to process backend settlements with banks. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while still paying the required fees.
Having driven for over a decade, I never deliberately turn off my ETC device. These things are designed to be on standby 24/7 – turning them off actually increases the chance of malfunctions. I remember when I first installed the ETC, the technician warned me that the little button on the back is an anti-tamper mechanism. Just prying the device off the windshield will trigger the protection lock. Last time, a curious friend of mine removed it to play around, and it got deactivated immediately – he had to drive dozens of kilometers to a service point to reactivate it. Honestly, there's no need to worry about battery drain. My old car sat unused for nearly a month, and the battery still started right up. Besides, discovering your ETC isn’t working when you’re on a sudden long trip, stuck in a long queue at the toll gate – now that’s real trouble.
