What does installing ETC in a car mean?

[VonAdrian]

ETC (Electronic-Toll-Collection) is an electronic toll collection system. It uses dedicated short-range communication between an onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and a microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations. By leveraging computer networking technology and bank backend settlement processing, it enables vehicles to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping when passing through toll stations. To apply for ETC, you need to provide the original and photocopies of the vehicle owner's valid ID and vehicle registration certificate. If the application is handled by a non-owner, the agent's valid ID must also be provided. The photocopy of the vehicle registration certificate should include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp. Additionally, a bank card for deducting highway tolls is required. Applicants must be between 18 and 60 years old, and the vehicle must be registered under an individual's name. 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 since vehicles don't need to stop at toll stations. 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 process vehicles 2-3 times faster, making traditional ETC systems more advanced, faster, and higher-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 increasing the adoption rate of ETC. The plan also sets a target of 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020. Future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future initiatives will promote ETC adoption for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle ahead is stationary, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to avoid accidental toll payments for the vehicle in front, especially if 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 becomes loose or detached, may render the tag ineffective. In such cases, take the device to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human error, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause toll deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay via cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.