Is ETC universally applicable?

[AnastasiaFitz]

ETC is nationally applicable and achieved nationwide networking as early as 2015. According to the State Council's regulations, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, highway toll stations will only retain one manual lane, requiring vehicles to pay tolls manually. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they need to be activated first. During free holiday periods, ETC users can still use highways, and passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the purpose of vehicles paying tolls without stopping at toll stations. All this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping; Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, thus lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improves efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passing efficiency 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 explicitly 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a clear target in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development plan: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, future efforts will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC Usage Precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the vehicle's ETC device from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Excessive speed may prevent reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the electronic tag invalid. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. Non-human-induced loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may also lead to failed deductions. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay via cash or card. Excessive thickness of the car windshield may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have undergone windshield replacement after accidents or those with modified front windshields.