Transport Minister Answers Questions About New Satelite-Based ERP System, Including Distance-Based Charging

A few days ago, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that it will be replacing the current Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system with one that utilises the Global Navigation Satellite System.

The current in-vehicle unit (IU) will be replaced with a new on-board unit (OBU), which looks more futuristic and even has an in-built SIM card.

In addition to providing real-time road traffic updates, the OBU can also facilitate payment, incorporate basic navigation functions, and even alert motorists to look out for more vulnerable road users.

The replacement exercise will commence in the second half of 2021 and is expected to finish in mid-2023.

While motorists were relieved to learn that the existing road pricing framework will remain, they still had quite a few questions on their minds.

Fortunately, our transport minister had some answers.

Transport Minister Answers Questions About New Satelite-Based ERP System

In a post on Facebook, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung addressed the 7 main concerns that motorists had about the new OBU system. 

Here’s what he had to say:

1) Why is there a need for a 3-piece design for the car OBUs? Shouldn’t it be an integrated unit?

Ong explained that an integrated unit would require a cooling unit to prevent overheating.

“From time to time, we park our cars under the hot sun, and a processing unit on the dashboard could not function without a big cooling unit”.

This is why the designer chose to make it a separate module, rather than a much larger one on the dashboard.

2) Why is the OBU windscreen unit so big? Won’t it block the windscreen?

The transport minister said that the photos may be a little misleading and that the dimensions of the new display unit – 152mmx80mm – are only slightly bigger than that of the current IU’s – 121mmx78mm.

“We will be doing consultation with workshops soon, and will discuss how best to install the new units so that it minimises blockage of the windscreen”, he added.

3) Won’t the display unit be distracting? Moreover, I prefer to use my own phone for navigation.

Ong acknowledged the fact that motorists would most likely still use their phone’s navigation applications than the one installed in the OBUs but explained that it’s a useful additional functionality.

“Other than showing real-time ERP transaction information, LTA can use it to pump out other important traffic-related information when there is a need to. Best to provide it now so that other good uses can be incorporated in future”, he said.

 4) Can I choose to not have the display?

As to having an OBU without a display, the minister explained that while motorists might opt for a simpler unit at first, they would eventually switch to the one with a display because off all the added functionalities it offers, such as displaying one’s balance, or how much has been deducted.

5)  Can’t I use my smartphone instead of my display unit? After all, I can pay carpark charges using my smartphone now.

Ong said that while these smartphones could be used in place of the display unit in the future, it’s better to have a “standard issue” since it’s a new system.

He also brought up the concern of data security, as well as operational issues such as depleted batteries.

6) Why is there no distance-based charging?

The new OBU system does have the capacity to calculate distance-based charges since it utilises the Global Navigation Satellite System.

But, as Ong said, switching to distance-based pricing is a “significant policy change which has many implications and should be studied carefully.”

“…it is much better to continue congestion pricing in a way that has been effective and motorists are used to”, he said.

7) Why was there no consultation on the design of the OBUs?

The Transport Minister explained that once LTA chose the OBU system it was “contractually bound” and couldn’t make major changes without it affecting the conditions of the contract.

“There can be consultations and change of design but it will affect the contract. We will have to see how to do this better next time”, he said.

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