Electronic Toll Collection

Introduction:

THREE COMPONENTS OF ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEMAUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATIONAUTOMATIC VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONVIDEO ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS

I. AUTOMATIC VEHICLE INDENTIFICATIONAVIELECTRONIC TAGSCOMMUNICATES WITH READERSIDENTIFIES ACCOUNTDEDUCTS CHARGES

II. AUTOMATIC VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONAVCSENSORVEHICLES CLASSTOTAL OCCUPANTSEMISSIONS

III. VIDEO ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMSVESVIDEO MONITORINGRECORDS PLATE IDENTIFIES TOLL VIOLATORS

Automatic Vehicle Identification tags are electronically encoded with unique identification numbers.

Roadside readers or antennas are located along the road, in overhead structures or apart of the toll collection booth.

These antennas emit radio frequency signals across the freeway lanes.

As the vehicle approaches a tag reader site, the roadside antenna emits a signal that is reflected back by the tag located on the windshield.

The identification number is read and is sent to a roadside reader unit where it receives a time, date and location. A central computer uses the code to identify the account and the cost is deducted from the customers account. Transactions are performed while the vehicle is within 40m of the antennas reach.

ADVANTAGESREDUCES TRAVEL TIMEREDUCES POLLUTIONREDUCES WAIT TIME AT TOLL BOOTHSINCREASES FUEL ECONOMYINCREASES HIGHWAY CAPACITY

DISADVANTAGESJOB LOSSTHEFTSTOLEN TAGSACCOUNT TAMPERINGFINANCIAL LOSSINNCORRECT READSMONETARY LOSS FOR COMPANY

Conclusion:The Electronic Toll Collection technology concept of prepaying tolls is catching on nationally and globally. It is instituted in Florida. The ETC system is also emerging around the world such as Japan. The ETC companies are working on continuing to make ETC attractive to consumers. To date the most successful region-wide toll collection institution is the Inter-agency Group formed in 1990. They have created, installed and operated a regional ETC in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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