Should the ETC Card Be Removed?
1 Answers
The ETC card can be taken out when not in use. If the ETC card is frequently left inserted in the OBU device, there may be a risk of unauthorized transactions. Removing it can significantly enhance security. Since ETC cards are chip cards, frequent insertion and removal may affect the chip's sensitivity. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the card only when it will not be used for an extended period. ETC, or Electronic Toll Collection, is also known as the Automatic Road Toll System. It is a specialized road tolling method used for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain sections of urban roads to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Billing Principle: Highways feature one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's onboard 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 settle payments with banks in the background. This allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, operating on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, thereby lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems faster, more advanced, 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 Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation smart cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators for comprehensive transportation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Future Possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the adoption rate among passenger vehicles, future efforts will focus on promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation initiatives such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, indicating that more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
