Can You Still Use the Highway If the ETC Card Is Removed?

[ElainaAnn]

You cannot use the ETC lane on the highway without inserting the card, but you can use the manual lane. According to the "Rules for Using the Non-Stop Fast Pass System," the ETC card must be inserted into the OBU device to function properly; 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. If the card is not inserted, the device remains in sleep mode and cannot recognize vehicle information at the toll station. Therefore, removing the card disables the ETC function. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is specifically designed for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain urban sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Deduction Principles: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through microwave short-range communication between the vehicle's onboard 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, allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. This operates on a "pass first, deduct later" principle. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by avoiding stops at toll stations. Cost-saving: Minimizes vehicle wear and fuel consumption by reducing frequent starts and stops. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic flow 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 adoption rate of ETC in vehicles." It also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will also focus on promoting ETC for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, indicating broader application scenarios for ETC.