electronic toll collection Archives

RFID gains increasing acceptance with introduction in northern region

With the volume of traffic having grown substantially over the years, toll plazas are a bottleneck along the highways. To eliminate this issue, PLUS and other highway concessionaires are working towards implementing a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system. With this system, toll booths won’t be needed any longer as all payments will be totally electronic.

Our highway Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) process started off with a tollcard manually swiped on a reader, progressing to a SmartTAG which uses an infrared beam to transmit the card information to a receiver over the lane. In both cases, the vehicle has to slow down considerably which caused traffic to build up at toll plazas.

The future is RFID – Radio Frequency IDdentification – using a tiny tag stuck on the headlight or windscreen which send a radio signal to a receiver to execute ETC. This allows quicker communication that will speed up the flow of traffic through the toll plaza.

RFID has been available for almost two years now and with PLUS – the largest highway concessionaire – having also adopted the system for its toll plazas this year, its acceptance and usage by motorists has been steadily increasing.

Positive response to pilot run
On July 22, PLUS began a pilot run of accepting ETC by RFID on a closed-toll highway system (this system charges by distance travelled) in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. All 9 toll plazas from Hutan Kampung all the way to Sungai Dua in the states of Penang and Kedah have lanes dedicated for RFID. It’s clear that the benefits of RFID have appealed to motorists as the penetration has increased from 2.3% two weeks ago to 10% today.

“It is encouraging to see the positive take up of the RFID with a short period of 14 days. I am confident that this will increase as more will see the multiple benefits of this payment solution. The most compelling reason for RFID is that the technology itself propagates physical distancing as compared to the existing card. Once it is linked to your e-wallet, it reduces the probability of being stuck in the toll lane because of insufficient balance and need to physically reload and risk transmission of the coronavirus,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“We are grateful for the Malaysia Highway Authority’s endorsement of this public pilot. The support by our highway regulator enabling PLUS to proceed with the first 9 designated closed toll plazas namely Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar Utara, Alor Setar Selatan, Pendang, Gurun, Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Bertam and Sungai Dua, is a testament of the promise that the other remaining closed toll highways will be primed for RFID very soon,” Datuk Azman added.

RFID DIY — Besides going to the Fitment Centres, motorists can also purchase the RFID tag online and attach it to the headlight or windscreen themselves. The price is the same as at the Fitment Centre but you probably have to pay a delivery charge.

Mindset shift necessary
PLUS, however, recognises that to embrace the RFID technology will require a level of mindset shift. For one thing, motorists will have to make use of the Touch’NGo eWallet which means they must have a smartphone or tablet (which can connect to the internet). Data from the RFID tag is linked to the Touch‘NGo eWallet and reloading can therefore be done online. This is more convenient than having to look for a reload kiosk or outlet to top-up the balance.

Eligible motorists can apply for the PENJANA economic package offered by the government where RM50 reloads will be transferred into successful applicants’ eWallets. However, this benefit does not apply to SmartTAG and Touch‘NGo card.

ETC is still accepted by Touch‘NGo cards and SmartTAGs at all PLUS toll plazas. However, at smaller toll plazas with limited lanes, SmartTag lanes were replaced with dedicated RFID lanes, but the card can still be used at the Touch‘NGo lanes. This will also apply with nationwide roll-out of RFID soon.

PLUS customers now have PUTRI to help them with their enquiries

RFID tag can now be used on PLUS highways in Kedah and Penang

If you are driving on PLUS highways in Kedah and Penang and your vehicle has a RFID tag, you can now enjoy faster passage through the toll plazas. From today (Wednesday, July 22). All 9 closed toll plazas from Hutan Kampung all the way to Sungai Dua will open their dedicated toll plaza lanes.

The RFID lanes, which can only be used by privately-registered vehicles, have been available at other toll plazas (open toll system) since the beginning of this year. Those have been at Jitra, Lunas, Kubang Semang, Penang Bridge, Mambau, Lukut, Kempas, Perling, Lima Kedai and Tanjung Kupang.

However, plans by PLUS to roll out across its plazas with 84 closed toll systems (payment based on distance travelled) from April 1 2020 had to be deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic which subjected the country to the Movement Control Order (MCO). Since the implementation of the Recovery MCO, PLUS has resumed its program of RFID implementation.

“Our Northern highway customers can enjoy the convenient, swift and safe RFID experience. Aligned to the Government’s directive to move towards Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll highway, the introduction of RFID on closed toll system is a next step to make this goal a reality. The RFID technology allows for faster throughput thus reducing congestion at the toll lanes, which is the primary objective for PLUS adopting it,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“Coincidently, its cashless and contactless transaction not only reduces human interaction at the lanes, but also eliminates the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Linked to an e-wallet as the source of funds, the RFID will reduce cases of insufficient card balances that cause hold up at lane. The ability to top up the e-wallet online helps replenish e-wallet balances regularly and negates the human interactions at toll plaza (for insufficient card balances) that increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” he explained.

Datuk Azman Ismail said PLUS anticipates a positive uptake of RFID tags from Penangites, while highway users in Kedah will want to start using the complementary electronic payment system to the SmartTag.

Touch’nGo Sdn Bhd is giving away 1,500 free RFID tags in a limited time only promotion, and PLUS currently offers complimentary RFID tags on a first come-first served basis (and while stocks last) at selected Fitment Centres in Penang and Kedah only. This is in conjunction with the #JomRFID campaign, especially during the Hutan Kampung-Sungai Dua the public pilot program kick-off.

To redeem these complimentary RFID tags, customers are required to register as a PLUSMiles member at jomrfid.plusmiles.com.my. They will then receive a voucher code for redemption. After the full redemption of 1,500 complimentary RFID tags, 15,000 users will be able to receive 500 PLUSMiles reward points when purchasing an RFID tag at RM35 each at the selected Fitment Centres.

PLUS customers now have PUTRI to help them with their enquiries

PLUS reduces traffic congestion by 48.2% by stopping reload services at toll plazas

If motorists are responsible and considerate, they would ensure that their tollcards have sufficient value before they travel on highways where toll is collected. With so many places, especially petrol stations, where the Touch’nGo cards can be reloaded, there is no excuse for not doing so. However, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) has found that many have insufficient balance in their tollcards, resulting in them having to reload at the toll plazas and causing traffic congestion at the exit lanes of the toll plazas.

To reduce traffic congestion on all outbound lanes in the Central Region toll plazas, PLUS made the decision to close the Reload Counters since August 1, 2019. This move, over the past 2 months, has seen a significant reduction of up to 48.2% in the number of low-traffic or inadequate balance customers trying to reload at the exit lanes at toll plazas in the Central Region which are located along routes between Seremban and Ipoh Selatan.

5% of motorists waste the time of 95%
On August 1, 2019, the first day, 5% of vehicles had insufficient balance for their tollcards. Although 5% is small, it involves 42,500 vehicles that queue up to reload, creating unnecessary congestion and wasting the time of 95% of other travellers on the highways.

The move to cease offering reload services at the toll plazas is also aimed at ensuring the safety of PLUS personnel as accidents involving heavy vehicles have occurred at toll booths in recent times.

“PLUS would like to thank the customers who have contributed to the 48.2% reduction in congestion at toll plazas in the Central Region by increasing their Touch’nGo card value. PLUS also appreciates the efforts of all Touch’nGo counters and service providers and counters and machines to ensure that Touch’nGo card or value-added kiosks are operating at all times to facilitate transactions,” the company’s statement said.

It added that this progressive initiative is also made possible with the strong support of the Malaysian Highway Authority, the regulator whose main aim is to ensure the safety and comfort of every Malaysian highway-user.

No more reload services in other regions soon
PLUS will continue to cease reload services at its toll plazas in the Southern and Northern Toll Plaza exit lanes soon.

Reload services are available at more than 10,000 locations nationwide such as ATMs, petrol stations, convenience stores, R&R areas and shopping malls.

Piston.my