E-tolling questions remain unanswered

The e-tolling project potentially offers a reduction in vehicle maintenance and repair costs of approximately 121%, according to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).

CEO Nazir Alli says, amid outcries against the system, that both sides of the equation must be considered.

He says studies have shown that when moving from a good-condition road to a bad-condition one, there will be large increases in vehicle maintenance and repair costs, and e-tolling will result in better condition roads.

However, Democratic Alliance spokesperson for roads and transport in Gauteng Neil Campbell says there are still many worrying factors in the project.

“There are a lot of things that worry me about this. It's too complex. Taxes are supposed to be simple and a toll is just another tax.

“Many adverts by Sanral preceded the launch of these fees, proclaiming the tolls would be levied on a user-pay principle but, reading between the complicated double-page adverts placed by Sanral, which lay out the applicable charges, the person who uses the roads least will pay the most.”

Campbell says drivers who end up on an e-toll road, probably by accident, will end up paying the most since frequent drivers get a discount.

“With the current billing chaos resulting mainly from the flawed Johannesburg computer system, not forgetting similar problems with the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane systems last year, yet another area of concern is being created with this system due to its complexity.”

The spokesperson says the major problem is that the public was never consulted for this project and there are still many questions that are unanswered.

“This is frightening stuff. Everything's going to cost more now,” says Campbell.

“I am in favour of any decrease in the high cost of these tolls.”

It is also possible that these prices could go up each year. Wanda Cloete, head of communications for the project, says toll fees are traditionally adjusted once a year on1 March and this is inflation-related.

Another issue Campbell mentions is that e-tags may be stolen from cars for fraudulent usage, but Cloete says the agency will be able to pick this up.

“When a vehicle enters the toll area, the equipment on the toll gantry reads the e-tag, takes photographs from the top, front and the back, and verifies that the vehicle number plate, vehicle class and e-tag are in accordance with the e-toll account registration details.

“Should any of the information not correspond, it will be flagged and manual verification will be done.”

Campbell also says Sanral will now have its own police force, with wide jurisdiction, and this will come with its own set of problems.

The agency's justification for the project is that most freeways in Gauteng have reached their capacity.

It adds that peak hours are extending by 10 to 15 minutes each year, resulting in congestion and uneconomical use of time, with increased vehicle operating costs and carbon emissions.

A report from the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the loss to the economy due to these factors is R15 million an hour.

Sanral says economic impact analysis provided an indication of the project's value to the economy.

“Indicators show that the project is economically viable and provides very high benefits to the Gauteng province and South Africa.”

The analysis shows the benefit-cost ratio is 8.4; the economic internal rate of return is 37%; and the net present value of benefits minus costs is R209.8 billion.

The agency also mentions traffic diversion as a benefit.

“In terms of the overall alternative provincial and metropolitan road network, there should be a reduction of +/-10% in travelled distance, and in excess of 20% reduction in travel time on a daily basis, as a result of the GFIP project.”

It says that, due to the GFIP, 185km of road was upgraded with additional lanes; CCTV cameras and message signs were added; and there is less congestion, safer journeys and reduced carbon emissions.

In terms of maintenance and repair cost increases due to worsening road conditions that would come about without the e-tolling system, according to Sanral, the average costs per kilometre are R0.96 on good roads, R1.24 on fair roads and R2.11 on bad roads.

All roads users travelling on the GFIP network will be liable for toll fees.

Sanral says registration commences in the second quarter of 2011 and road users will be able to register an e-toll account via the e-toll customer service Web site; e-toll customer service kiosks located at shopping malls; e-toll customer service centres situated along the freeway network; by contacting the e-toll call centre; or by buying an e-tag at retail outlets.

Locations of the registration points will be available on www.sanral.co.za once registration commences.

There will also be mobile units allocated to remote areas for registration.

Road users will have the option to link their e-toll account directly to their credit card, according to the agency.

Users can also elect to have a prepaid account.

Sanral revealed the much anticipated tariff and discount structure for the e-tolling system on 4 February.

E-tolling forms part of the GFIP. The 185km of new toll infrastructure will see the N1 to Pretoria, Johannesburg ring roads and the R21 to Pretoria become electronic tolling zones.

It is an open road, multi-lane toll infrastructure that allows for tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.

“Overhead gantries will be fitted with the toll collection equipment that will recognise the electronic transponder (e-tag) in a vehicle, toll will be deducted from a user's registered e-toll account, and they will be able to travel without any disruption,” says Sanral.

Standard light vehicles will be charged 66c/km.

Motorists can expect to start trying out the e-tolling system on Gauteng's highways from the end of March, with final implementation set to begin on 23 June.