Nowadays, modern toll systems generally consist of a way to track the vehicle, some identification mechanism and a registration and billing system. This works by having vehicles affix a tag a device that allows charging the toll electronically and in movement on their windshield, which exchanges a signal with antennas arranged in the toll area.
Rossi also noted the rise of embedded devices such ODBII devices and connected odometers, as well as the use of artificial intelligence AI to improve the performance of road sensors. Share to:. Related Articles. IoT developments help ease urban traffic congestion. Smart tolling key to smart highways. Most Viewed Articles. These antennas emit radio frequencies that communicate with the transponder. The detection zone of an antenna is typically 6 to 10 feet 2 to 3 m wide and about 10 feet long.
These two devices, the transponder and the antenna, interact to complete the toll transaction. Some electronic toll-collection systems may also include a light curtain and treadles. A light curtain is just a beam of light that is directed across the lane. When that beam of light is broken, the system knows a car has entered. Treadles are sensor strips embedded in the road that detect the number of axles a vehicle has.
A three-axle vehicle is charged a higher toll than a two-axle vehicle. These two devices are safeguards to ensure that all vehicles are counted correctly. In the next section, you will see how all of these components work together to detect vehicles and collect tolls.
By installing electronic toll-collection systems, government agencies believe that traffic will move faster. The idea is that even if commuters have to slow down for the toll booths, they can get through faster with a system like E-ZPass.
Motorists no longer have to worry about stopping to deposit or hand over the toll -- and there is certainly no searching the car for loose change. As long as they've paid on their E-ZPass account, they just have to rely on the lane antenna to read the signals from the transponder. The entire process takes a matter of seconds to complete. The electronic system records each toll transaction, including the time, date, plaza and toll charge of each vehicle. Typically, consumers maintain prepaid accounts.
A yellow light or some other signal will flash to indicate if an account is low or depleted. The rules regarding how fast you can pass through the toll plaza vary from system to system. Some traffic agencies allow drivers to pass through the system at 55 miles per hour 86 kph. Others want you to slow down to 30 mph 48 kph , or even 5 mph 8 kph. These lanes are monitored using video cameras. Some states allow cars to drive right through the toll plaza as the antenna detects the transponder.
If you try to go through the plaza without a transponder, the camera records you and takes a snapshot of your license plate. The vehicle owner then receives a violation notice in the mail. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Under the Hood. How E-ZPass Works. Toll plazas like this one are familiar sites to millions of drivers.
The Basics " ". Transponder Antenna Lane controller - This is the computer that controls the lane equipment and tracks vehicles passing through. It is networked on a Local area network LAN. No Change, No Problem " ". As a car approaches a toll plaza, the radio-frequency RF field emitted from the antenna activates the transponder.
The transponder broadcasts a signal back to the lane antenna with some basic information.
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