Do I need to turn on Bluetooth for ETC?
3 Answers
When using ETC on highways, there is no need to turn on the car's Bluetooth or mobile phone Bluetooth. The ETC junction box installed in our car has a short-range communication response system inside, which will automatically communicate with the sensors on the road, and our car and mobile phone do not need to turn on Bluetooth. ETC is currently provided by 8 domestic manufacturers. Some ETC terminals can only be installed via mobile Bluetooth during installation, but Bluetooth does not need to be turned on during use. ETC is the abbreviation of Electronic-Toll-Collection, which means electronic toll collection system. To apply, you need to provide the original and photocopies of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and driving license. If it is not the owner who handles it, you also need to bring the agent's valid ID card. The photocopy of the driving license needs to include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp; a bank card for deducting highway tolls; aged between 18 and 60; the car must be under the individual's name. How ETC works: Through the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, it communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and uses computer networking technology to settle accounts with the bank in the background, allowing the vehicle to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping when passing through highway or bridge toll stations. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: Avoid the hassle of queuing and waiting; Green and environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and pollution; Save wear and tear: Save costs, reduce the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reduce wear and fuel consumption, and users can enjoy toll discounts; Improve efficiency: The passing efficiency of ETC lanes can theoretically be increased by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updated, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and has more advantages.
After driving for so long, I realized that the Bluetooth function of ETC is actually not needed during normal driving, and it doesn't turn on automatically. That Bluetooth is mainly for our own use, not for the toll station. Think about it—when passing through a toll station, the barrier lifts without the car even stopping, all thanks to the sensing module inside the device, which doesn't rely on the phone's Bluetooth at all. The Bluetooth switch is only used when you need to reactivate the device, recharge, change cars, or update bank card binding information. For example, last time my device ran out of power and didn't work when stuck to the windshield, so I had to turn on the phone's Bluetooth and pair it with the ETC mini-program to reactivate it. That's when it's needed. Just turn it off afterward—keeping Bluetooth on drains the battery anyway.
For us elderly folks, dealing with electronic devices can be a bit daunting, but the ETC Bluetooth isn't actually that complicated. Once the device is installed, you don't need to worry about whether Bluetooth is on or off during daily toll booth passages—the sensing is very sensitive. So when do you need to turn it on? Only when you find the device isn't working and prompts you to reactivate it or something similar. At that point, take your phone, turn on Bluetooth, follow the instructions in the device manual or the app to pair it with the ETC device, allowing the device to recognize your account information again. After pairing is complete, it's best to turn Bluetooth off. If you find it troublesome and encounter prompts requiring Bluetooth pairing activation, you can simply go to a bank branch and let them handle it for you—it's hassle-free, and safety and reliability are what matter most.
