ETC (Electronic-Toll-Collection) is an electronic toll collection system. It uses dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna on the ETC lane at toll stations, combined with computer networking technology and bank backend settlement processing, to achieve the purpose of vehicles passing through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay toll fees. To apply for ETC, you need to provide the original and photocopies of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and vehicle registration certificate. If the application is not made by the owner, the agent's valid ID card is also required. The photocopy of the vehicle registration certificate should include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp. Additionally, you need a bank card for deducting highway toll fees, must be between 18 and 60 years old, and the vehicle must be registered under a personal name. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces carbon emissions as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, lowering noise and exhaust emissions and reducing pollution. Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, thus reducing wear and fuel consumption. Improves efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC 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 aims to achieve interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020, significantly increase the proportion of vehicles using ETC, and set a target of 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing and payment for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device is faulty or absent. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed toll deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may render the tag ineffective. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause toll deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick car windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
