Tolling - back to basics

Electronic toll collection (ETC) is the automatic collection of tolls by debiting a users account, which may be a pre-paid tag or charged to a credit card. ETC systems reduce queues at toll plazas, save fuels, reduce toll collection costs, enhance audit control and increase facility throughput. The importance of planning and design in the implementation of a toll facility is described and the components ofa toll facility team and its advisor are outlined. Factors to be considered when developing tolling tariffs are considered. The differences between open and closed toll collection systems are described. The automatic vehicle classification component of the system is outlined. It consists of in-lane sensor devices that record the physical characteristics of the vehicle and assign a class to each vehicle passing through the lane. The loop detection technology, Idris, is able to identify specific vehicles of interest e.g. stretch limousines. Automatic vehicle identification is required for open road tolling lanes in order to determine the ownership of the vehicle. The use of electronic tags for vehicle identification is discussed. Vehicle enforcement systems capture images of the license plates of vehicles that pass through a toll facility without a valid tag or paying the appropriate fee.