National electronic toll collection exceeds expectations
Road users on the country's toll road network will continue to enjoy the benefits of an automated electronic payment system during this holiday period.
"A single account can be registered and the same tag, linked to this account, works at all toll plazas, irrespective who the operator of the toll plaza is," says Alex van Niekerk, Manager Toll and Traffic at Sanral.
The fully interoperable system was introduced by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) two years ago and has proven to be a major success. The same tag can be used at toll plazas operated by Sanral and its concessionaires, Bakwena, N3TC and AC.
"We are very pleased with the growth and take up of electronic toll transactions across all historical 'manually' operated toll plazas in South Africa. The average number of toll transactions done electronically has grown from a zero base to above 20% in quantum and 30% in value over the past two years," says Van Niekerk.
The transition from manual to electronic toll systems is aligned with expectation that road users have for improved service and efficiency.
Road users don't want to delay their journey when making toll payment at a conventional toll facility. A system of electronic toll collection has been developed over the last decade allowing road users to move through the toll plaza without delay.
Automated electronic toll payment is an efficient, fair and sustainable method of collecting tolls. Among its benefits are improved speed and efficiency of traffic flow to the convenience of road users and a reduction the overall journey time due to less time spent to make toll payments. In addition, it increases the potential throughput of a conventional toll lane threefold. This reduces the need for toll plaza expansions.
And it has become a global trend with South Africa at the forefront.
Internationally, electronic toll collection systems are not necessarily homogenous in a single country. In the United States, for example, there are various electronic toll collection technologies deployed that require road users to set up multiple accounts with different toll companies and to install multiple tags in their vehicles.
Some important travel information for those travelling around the country this festive season:
* For a detailed list of all toll plazas where automated electronic toll payment will be accepted, please visit the Sanral Web site www.sanral.co.za/e-toll;* Signs at the plaza will indicate which lane can be used to pay with a tag* If a 'tag accepted' sign is displayed approaching the toll plaza and lanes are not individually marked, it means all lanes accept tags;* Reduce speed when entering the toll plaza area;* Select a lane which accepts Sanral tags as a method of payment;* Maintain a car length following distance to avoid payment for a vehicle in front;* If a tag is detected, it will emit one or more beeps depending on the account status:* 1 beep - payment successful.* 2 beeps - low balance warning.* 4 beeps - account suspended i.e. no funds in account.
* Ensure that there are sufficient funds in the toll account to accommodate the costs of all toll plazas en route;* Note that payments made into the toll account may take up to five days to reflect, if not made online on the account Web site (www.sanral.co.za/e-toll) or at a Sanral Customer Service Centre. Booms will not open if the funds in the toll account are less than the amount due at the specific toll plaza. It is also possible to link your account to an automated top-up means by linking your account to a conventional bank account or credit card;* In the event of double billing, for example if the tag appears not to have been read and cash is paid, the slip produced must be kept safe, should there be any disputes at a later stage.
"Should any motorist need help in planning their journey, they must not hesitate to contact our Customer Services at 0800 726 725, visit one of our centres or e-mail us on [email protected]," advises Van Niekerk.