Australian OE # 02
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4/26/2006
Australian OE # 02
Australian OE # 02: e-TAGs
Here in Australia they've got some impressive roads. Melbourne especially. In NZ we've got highways and motorways, in Australia it's highways and freeways. Some freeway segments are tollways and require an e-TAG.
During my time here I understand the e-TAG has been made to work nation-wide, so the same little device will work wherever you travel. It's a pre-paied little ID for your motorvehicle, like a swipe card.
About the size of a '90s cell phone, the e-TAG is a Tesla Coil which beeps as you pass through a magnetic field beneath a gantry above the road. Thusly do the roading authorities know when a user has accessed the road-segment, and charge it to their account. There are cameras that read and match the vehicle's numberplate. If an unauthorised user accesses the road-segment they used to end up with a dirty fine addressed to them. However, this policy has changed so that even without an e-TAG or prior arrangments a driver can retrospectively pay a nominal useage charge by making a phone call and thus avoid a big fine.
It works just fine. All the toll roads in Melbourne use them. In Sydney and Brisbane, if you get in the correct lane, you also have the option of stopping at a booth and paying by coin. Either you throw your money into a chute or stop and actually do it at a manned toll booth.
More exciting Australian OE talk about roads, bridges and tunnels are sure to come!
Here in Australia they've got some impressive roads. Melbourne especially. In NZ we've got highways and motorways, in Australia it's highways and freeways. Some freeway segments are tollways and require an e-TAG.
During my time here I understand the e-TAG has been made to work nation-wide, so the same little device will work wherever you travel. It's a pre-paied little ID for your motorvehicle, like a swipe card.
About the size of a '90s cell phone, the e-TAG is a Tesla Coil which beeps as you pass through a magnetic field beneath a gantry above the road. Thusly do the roading authorities know when a user has accessed the road-segment, and charge it to their account. There are cameras that read and match the vehicle's numberplate. If an unauthorised user accesses the road-segment they used to end up with a dirty fine addressed to them. However, this policy has changed so that even without an e-TAG or prior arrangments a driver can retrospectively pay a nominal useage charge by making a phone call and thus avoid a big fine.
It works just fine. All the toll roads in Melbourne use them. In Sydney and Brisbane, if you get in the correct lane, you also have the option of stopping at a booth and paying by coin. Either you throw your money into a chute or stop and actually do it at a manned toll booth.
More exciting Australian OE talk about roads, bridges and tunnels are sure to come!
posted by Rick #
7:33:00 PM 
