Nov/Dec 2009

South Africa’s first open road tolling system, with electronic toll collection, will come into operation after completion of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) in October next year.

Open-road tolling means that transactions will be conducted electronically on a user-pay system. Physical tolling booths will be eliminated - thus eradicating delays and vehicle emissions associated with stop-start driving.

Motorists will be required to register as a user to obtain the transponders that are fitted in vehicles. The transponders detect movement whenever the driver passes under gantries situated approximately every 10km along the freeway network.

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) says the revenue generated from the toll roads will be used to improve the road infrastructure, service debt already incurred on for the upgraded freeway network in Gauteng and ensure a well-maintained and upgraded road network into the future.

Sanral further claims the ‘user-pay’ principle indicates that future congestion in Gauteng will be minimised as the agency develops a sufficient revenue stream to upgrade the road infrastructure in line with demand.

Vehicles belonging to non-Gauteng residents, rental vehicles and those without transponders will be photographed and presented with an account. Non-payment will be a traffic offence in terms of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences legislation.

SANRAL toll and traffic manager Alex van Niekerk says tolling remains an equitable method for motorists to pay for what they use and this means that SANRAL will be able to provide road infrastructure more promptly than having to rely on tax-based revenue.

Overhead gantries will be fitted with detection devices, such as cameras and aerial transceivers, which will recognise the number plate of a vehicle, or the electronic tag bought by a motorist and fitted to the vehicle’s windscreen.

Sanral says motorists will register for and obtain electronic toll tags, which are linked to bank accounts. ‘Top-ups’ of a motorist’s toll account could be done over the Internet, through customer service centres, through a cellular phone, or at fuel stations and retail stores.

Toll prices will be linked to the consumer price index, and regulated by the Minister of Transport. Once electronic toll collection has been implemented in Gauteng, it will be rolled out countrywide.

Sanral says toll accounts would need to be paid within seven days, and violations would be met with stiff fines. Applicable legislation is under discussion, and the payment system will also be linked to eNaTIS.