Decisions on who will pay the e-toll tariffs in the case of a stolen e-tag being used by criminals have not yet been made by the relevant authorities.
There are no answers to this potentially problematic scenario as yet, according to senior project manager for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project at SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) Alex van Niekerk.
This is in addition to unanswered e-toll billing questions regarding foreign drivers and the use of duplicate licence plates.
There is no system in place to bill foreign drivers, with foreign vehicles, who use Gauteng highways through the new e-toll system, going against the user-pay principle on which the system is based.
This came after Van Niekerk also said motorists would face being double-billed if their licence plates are fraudulently duplicated. In such cases, the problem will only be resolved after the fraud has been perpetrated and the motorist follows up the issue with Sanral.
For the controversial e-tolling project, vehicle details will be captured as they pass the gantries, either via an e-tag, which can be purchased by drivers and fitted on their windscreens, or by having their licence plates flashed by overhead cameras on the gantries.
This information is then linked to details on traffic management system eNatis so the appropriate person can be billed the toll fee.
Sensitive consideration
Van Niekerk says there will be a call centre number that users can call in the case of lost or stolen tags. “All calls are recorded. Users can also communicate through the Web site.”
He adds that users must notify Sanral of the stolen e-tag immediately, to ensure it is not misused.
However, if the tag is used before Sanral can be notified or before it can be cancelled after being stolen, there is no answer as yet for who will cover the costs incurred by the criminals.
“These issues are sensitive and currently under consideration with the law enforcement agencies,” says Van Niekerk.
He also did not provide comment around whether the stolen e-tag could be used to track the criminal using it, and if live tracking of the e-tag via the gantries would be possible to enable this.
Big gaps
Commentators argue that these issues mean there are too many holes in the system, in regard to billing especially, and have yet to be addressed.
Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson for transport Neil Campbell says it is a problematic situation.
“Foreign people are going to escape e-tolling and so it's not a user-pay system, despite what they [Sanral] say.”
National chairman of Justice Protect SA Howard Dembovsky agrees, saying it is a question that needs to be answered. “There are lots of things they haven't thought about with this system and this is just one of them.
Milked dry
A reduction on the tariffs initially gazetted for e-tolling in February was accepted by Cabinet this month.
Public comment shows that industry players, individuals, labour, business and opposition parties are still not happy with the fees, which are deemed to be too high.
DA shadow deputy minister for transport Manny de Freitas says although road users have no issue with paying for the roads they enjoy in Gauteng, it is unacceptable that they get milked dry for it.
“Sanral makes certain claims with regards this project. They claim that there will be a positive improvement on road safety. Until we are into the swing of the project, this will be difficult to prove.”
He adds that accidents on the highways may even increase due to high turn-off congestion. This will occur because motorists may use only certain sections of the highway and will use alternative routes to avoid the gantries.
“This could possibly bring up crash incidents. In this case, it's a waiting game.”
The shadow deputy minister also says Sanral cites a number of countries that have successfully implemented similar projects. “What they don't mention is that these countries provide alternative modes of transport, such as rail systems within their cities. No city in Gauteng, or SA for that matter, provides [any] such alternatives.”
He adds that Cabinet has no choice but to look at reducing the tariffs and at alternatives to resolve this problem.
Five months
Despite widespread rejection of the e-toll system, transport director-general George Mahlalela previously said it was only the price of the toll fees that were being disputed and not the principle of tolling itself, which had already been accepted.
Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele recently said the tolls are “a done deal”.
“It's done. The tolls are there, the money has been spent and decisions have been taken.”
The controversial Gauteng e-toll system is expected to be implemented over the next five months.
The approved fee structure dictates that motorcycles (Class A1) with e-tags will pay 24c/km; light vehicles (Class A2) will pay 40c/km; medium vehicles (Class B) will pay 100c/km; and “longer” vehicles (Class C) will pay 200c/km.
The suggested reduction for light vehicles without e-tags was a drop from 66c/km, to 58c/km; and from R3.95 for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95.
The e-tolling project is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.
Share