What does MTC at highway exits mean?
2 Answers
MTC stands for Manual Toll Collection system, a semi-automatic lane tolling system on highways. Here is some information about MTC: 1. Overview: MTC is a relatively traditional highway tolling system, which, along with ETC (Electronic Toll Collection system), belongs to the intelligent transportation systems. 2. Function: MTC (Manual Toll Collection system, semi-automatic toll lane) is the existing manual tolling system. The MTC lane consists of an Automatic Vehicle Classification system (AVC), card reader devices, display equipment, video surveillance, automatic barriers, and computer software systems. The card reader can be either contact or contactless.
I've been driving for over twenty years and often see the MTC sign at highway exits. Its full name is Manual Toll Collection, meaning a manual toll lane, as opposed to ETC electronic toll collection. In such lanes, you need to stop and pay the toll in cash or via mobile QR code to the toll collector. All lanes used to operate this way, but now with the widespread adoption of ETC, MTC lanes are only retained at a few exits to accommodate vehicles without electronic devices. Sometimes the queues can be long, especially during peak hours, which can be quite a hassle. I recommend using an ETC card more often—it's faster, more convenient, and reduces the risk of rear-end collisions. Over my years of driving on highways, minor mistakes often stem from not understanding the signs, so it's always good to observe and remember them. Safe travel is what matters most.
