Is there a charge for not using ETC?
2 Answers
Normally, ETC for vehicles will not incur charges when not in use; fees are only deducted when entering highways. ETC is an electronic toll collection system that allows vehicles equipped with ETC onboard units to pass through dedicated ETC lanes without stopping, using electronic payment methods. Below are specific details about ETC: 1. Principle: The ETC non-stop toll collection system is currently the most advanced bridge and road toll collection method in the world. It utilizes dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. By leveraging computer networking technology for backend settlement processing with banks, it enables vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at bridge or road toll stations. 2. Features: Non-stop toll collection technology is particularly suitable for highways or busy bridge and tunnel environments. In traditional setups with lane isolation measures, the non-stop toll collection system is typically referred to as a single-lane non-stop toll collection system. In scenarios without lane isolation under free-flow traffic conditions, it is commonly known as a free-flow non-stop toll collection system.
I often drive long distances on the highway. I used to pay with cash, but later I installed an ETC device. To be honest, whether you take the ETC lane or the manual lane, you have to pay when passing through the toll station—the only difference is the payment method. With ETC, you either prepay or link it to a bank card for automatic deduction, while the manual lane requires stopping to pay with cash or by scanning a QR code. During peak hours in some places, the manual lanes have long queues, so ETC saves time by allowing direct passage. But when it comes to toll rules, no matter which lane you take, you pay based on mileage—the toll station system has already calculated the fee for each vehicle.
