What Causes ETC Malfunctions on Highways?
2 Answers
ETC malfunctions can be caused by various reasons, such as exceeding the speed limit of 20km/h when passing through an ETC lane, a drained ETC device battery, poor contact with the ETC card, or damage to the ETC equipment. If the issue is not due to speed or a dead battery, and the ETC still doesn't work, you can bring your personal identification to an ETC service center for inspection or replacement. Here is some relevant information about ETC: 1. Introduction: ETC is an Electronic Toll Collection system for automatic tolling on highways or bridges without stopping. 2. Working Principle: ETC operates through dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted ETC electronic tag and the ETC microwave antenna in the toll lane, utilizing computer networking technology for backend settlement processing with banks, allowing vehicles to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping at toll booths.
Last weekend, my ETC suddenly stopped working while I was on the highway, which was really frustrating! Common reasons include a dead battery in the device—the battery in the OBU tag can run out over time, especially for older car owners; the tag might not be properly attached or is misaligned; weak signal from the lane antenna, sometimes caused by construction or aging equipment; or system backend updates or interference, like from mobile phone signals. I later checked and found the battery was dead—replacing it solved the issue. Also, dust on the tag's surface can affect recognition, so regular cleaning is important. If you encounter a malfunction, don’t panic; just go to a service point for repairs. It won’t affect your trip but might take some extra time.
