You Won't Have To Slow Down At Toll Plazas After This New System Is Implemented In 2018
Say goodbye to traffic congestion at toll plazas.
By Tang Ruxyn — 17 Aug 2017, 12:24 PM
Most toll plazas in Malaysia have gone fully electronic and cashless in the past year as it is more convenient and efficient
However, using Touch 'n Go card and SmartTAG at tolls may be a thing in the past soon. This is because the authorities are planning to introduce a new system using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh announced recently that a new digital payment system that uses RFID-based ETC (electronic toll collection) system will eventually replace current system for toll collection.
It is said that this system would be even more advanced and efficient than using Touch 'n Go card and SmartTAG to pay at toll plazas.
With this new system, a road user would just need to stick a special tag on their vehicle and pass through a toll plaza without the need to slow down or come to a full stop. The sensors on the toll plaza would detect the tag, and the charge for passing through the toll is automatically debited from the motorist’s pre-loaded amount.
This new system is scheduled to be introduced to the public in stages starting from January 2018
Sin Chew Daily reported that MHA is conducting a trial run for this new system before allowing the public to use it as early as 28 January next year.
On the other hand, The Star reported Ismail as saying that the RFID tag is already being used by the police and other authorities such as the Fire and Rescue Department and ambulance services. It was reported that they were exempted from paying toll.
This system is expected to solve traffic congestions at toll plazas
The new toll system is said to be similar to Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system.
Image via mroach/Flickr via CoconutsAlong with the new RFID-based ETC system, MHA is also planning to implement the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system which will see toll booth plazas without barriers.
The MLFF system is expected to ensure faster flow of traffic through the toll plaza as road users are able to zoom through with cashless payment.
According to Ismail, each toll plaza would have at least a single lane provided for this new system to be tested out. The authorities will then expand to more lanes when it proves to be successful.
It was reported that these systems will be fully implemented by 2020.