Road users in Johannesburg will soon have to pay more on their transportation costs. Despite efforts to challenge the Gauteng e-toll system it is merely a matter of how much we will pay and when the system is about to start. It appears that Sanral is getting all the back-office systems and technology in place and will start testing the transaction system tomorrow. Technology information portal ITWeb reports as follows:
“Large-scale live testing of e-toll transactions for Gauteng road users, who have chosen the e-tag account option, will start tomorrow.
The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) says drivers who have registered for Gauteng e-tolling and fitted an e-tag to their vehicle are advised that their e-tags will start beeping as they pass underneath toll gantries on the Gauteng e-road network.
“The test will be run in phases, which means not all toll gantries will be switched on simultaneously.”
No deductions
The agency emphasises that during this test phase no funds will be deducted from road users’ accounts.
“A single beep will be produced by the e-tag as an indication that e-toll transactions for that particular user would be successfully processed. If a road user has registered for Gauteng e-tolling and fitted an e-tag to their vehicle and hears more than one beep or no beep at all from their e-tag when passing beneath a gantry, they should contact the e-toll call centre on 0800 Sanral (726 725) or visit an e-toll customer service outlet as this could be an indication of a problem with their e-toll account, or the fitment of the e-tag.”
The same e-tag beeping sequences will occur when registered Gauteng e-road users drive on the Bakwena toll road north of Pretoria. The beeping on the Bakwena toll road is also part of this test phase, meaning the road users’ accounts are not yet active and no funds will be deducted, according to Sanral.
Meaningful beeps
It adds that when the system becomes operational on 30 April, three types of beeping will be produced by the e-tag.
The first is the single beep that indicates the transaction was successful. The second is a double beep that alerts the road user that the funds in their e-toll account are low and need to be topped up. The e-tag will also give off four beeps or no beep at all when a transaction is not successful.
“Road users are reminded that the e-tag is optional and also entitles them to various discounts on their toll tariffs including the 48% e-tag discount. Frequent user discounts and the R550 monthly toll fee cap will also be available to motorcycles and light motor vehicles fitted with an e-tag.
“In addition to all the efforts that have been made to lessen the impact of the toll tariffs on road users, Sanral will ensure the testing phase is non-disruptive to road users.”
[Story by Farzana Rasool appeared on ITWeb]
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