What to Do If You Accidentally Use Someone Else's ETC When Entering the Highway?
1 Answers
When entering the highway, if you accidentally use someone else's ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system, you will not have a toll card when exiting. In this case, the toll station will handle it as a no-card situation, meaning the driver who used the ETC without authorization will be charged the full toll for the entire highway section. In severe cases, the driver may be blacklisted by the highway authorities and permanently banned from using the national highway system. How ETC Works: ETC operates through an onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, which communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station via dedicated short-range communication. This system uses computer networking technology to process transactions with banks in the background, allowing vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while automatically paying the required fees. ETC Usage Precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To avoid accidentally paying for the vehicle in front (due to their ETC device malfunctioning or not having one), maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from the vehicle ahead. The ETC lane recognizes vehicles moving at speeds up to 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading your vehicle's information, leading to a failed transaction. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU (On-Board Unit) device, or if the ETC electronic tag becomes loose or detached, may render the tag ineffective. In such cases, you can take it to the bank where the ETC card was issued or to a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause transaction failure. Follow the instructions of on-site staff to use the manual MTC (Manual Toll Collection) lane and pay with cash or card. If the vehicle's windshield is too thick, it may interfere with ETC signal reception. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
