If you live in fear and trembling of the dreaded ‘beep’ whenever you drive past an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry, you may not like what’s coming to Singapore. The new generation of the ERP system will be completely inescapable (not that the current one is that unavoidable), because it’s going to have islandwide coverage.
To replace the ERP gantries that have been in place since 1998, the new system, which will become a reality by 2020, is set to charge motorists according to their distance travelled. In between the switch, expect an 18-month transition period for drivers to exchange their in-vehicle unit for a smartphone-sized on-board one (don’t worry, the government’s paying for the first one).
There won’t be any changes to the current charging system during this time — it’s only afterwards that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will take into consideration the system of charging by distance. If that happens, it could mean higher ERP rates for those with high mileages, such as cabbies and deliverymen.
So what can the new unit do, you ask? Using satellite navigation technology, it’ll notify you of priced roads in advance, display alternative routes, alert you of charges and offer information on real-time traffic conditions. So perhaps it could be a good thing after all — at least according to LTA, which said this would help drivers decide on the best routes to take. Other functions of the new system include coupon-less streetside parking and automatic payment for offpeak cars that drive during peak periods.
