What does ETC refer to as a system?
2 Answers
ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection, which is an automatic toll collection system for highways or bridges. According to the regulations of the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual lanes. During free holiday periods, vehicles can still use the highways. For users who have installed ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC's charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through 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, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks in the background. This achieves the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls, all 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: Green and low-carbon, vehicles passing through toll stations without stopping can reduce noise and exhaust emissions, thereby minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased 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 clearly 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 be significantly increased." It also set a clear target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will also be made to promote ETC usage for trucks. The future will explore deeper integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, 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 in front. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, leading to charging failure. 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 testing. If the detachment or loosening is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause charging failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to proceed to the manual MTC lane and use cash or card payments for passage. Poor sensing due to overly thick car windshields. This is particularly important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.
As an ordinary car owner, installing ETC has made my life much easier. ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection, which is an electronic toll system in Chinese. Simply put, it's a small device attached to my car's windshield with a bank card inserted inside. When passing through highway toll stations, I don't need to stop—the system automatically deducts the fee. The principle involves using radio technology to scan and identify vehicle information, and the speed is unbelievably fast. I commute daily via the highway, and before, I had to queue to pay in cash, often stuck in traffic for half an hour. Now, it's done in seconds, saving precious time. The benefits aren't just time-saving; there's also a 5% discount on toll fees, saving me hundreds of yuan a year. Safety-wise, it reduces the risk of stopping, especially on slippery rainy roads, minimizing the chance of rear-end collisions by reducing braking. Installation is free at the bank—just get a card, and it's straightforward to operate. The device has a long lifespan and rarely breaks. For trips, ETC works nationwide, making it incredibly convenient. I think modern technology should be this practical—enhancing the driving experience while improving safety.
