What is the abbreviation of ETC?
2 Answers
ETC stands for Electronic-Toll-Collection, which translates to "electronic non-stop toll collection" (electronic toll collection) in Chinese. It is an automatic toll collection system for highways or bridges. According to regulations from 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 Deduction Principles: 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, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls. All of this is based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Save Time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and Eco-Friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduce Wear and Tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improve Efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can increase by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates 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 significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year Plan" for comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More Future Possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore deeper integration of the ETC system with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When the vehicle in front is stationary, to prevent issues such as the front vehicle's ETC device 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 front vehicle. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent 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 intervention, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay via cash or card. Poor sensing due to overly thick 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 a long-time educator in language and culture, I often encounter students asking what 'etc' stands for. It is actually the abbreviation of the Latin phrase 'et cetera', meaning 'and so forth' or 'and the rest'. In English, we commonly use it at the end of a list to indicate there are more items not mentioned, such as writing 'apples, bananas, etc.' on a shopping list. Many people mistakenly write 'ect', which is a common error; sometimes they also confuse 'i.e.' (id est, meaning 'that is') with 'e.g.' (exempli gratia, meaning 'for example'). Understanding these can improve writing efficiency, especially saving time in academic and business documents. I emphasize the significance of learning Latin roots, which not only aids memory but also helps avoid mistakes in daily usage. For instance, correctly using 'etc' in reports can make the content appear more professional. A simple tip is to practice reading authentic texts more often, and over time, mastery will come naturally.